Sammy, the narrator of “A&P”, immediately starts the story by talking about the three girls that come in. He is immediately attracted to them and throughout the story he also seems to be attracted to their presence. Sammy begins describing the physical appearance of the girls also describing their bathing suits, even Suzanne Henning Uphaus states, “The three girls, and especially the queen, are described in intimate and pleasurable detail.” The girls at the beginning of the story are spoken about as if they were just some tangible item and no more (Updike 294). After looking over the story multiple times it became clear that Sammy is only concerned about what the girls, especially “Queenie” thinks of him. Although Sammy is made aware that, “They are of a social class beyond his, for he is a town boy, they are summer vacationers, from families who snack on herring in sour cream as they sip their cocktails” as Uphaus mentions, yet he remains persistent in his pursuit to receive …show more content…
Sammy wants to be noticed by the girls, but he isn't.” The purpose of him quitting was due to him seeking attention from the girls in which he has given all his attention to throughout the entire story. In the same sentence when Sammy is speaking of when he said, “I quit” he mentions that he said it fast enough so the girls, who are leaving, would have a chance to hear, as well as calling himself their “unsuspected hero” (Updike 298). Although as a reader it is implied that Sammy doesn’t belong in that town, by the end of the story it’s clear that he actually does. Although Sammy quit his job because of the girls he actually is doing it so he has a better chance at talking to the girls. All of his actions were leading up to him hopefully sparking a conversation with the