In John Updike's short story "A & P," the main character, Sammy, is a young man working as a cashier at a grocery store in a small town. The story follows Sammy as he witnesses three young women in bathing suits entering the store, and his subsequent decision to quit his job in protest of the store's treatment of the women.
As the story begins, Sammy is working the cash register at the A & P, a grocery store located in a small town on the New England coast. He is a 19-year-old high school graduate who has been working at the store for three years. As he goes about his routine of checking out customers, he is suddenly interrupted by the arrival of three young women in bathing suits.
The women, who are described as "queenly" and "aristocratic," are out of place in the mundane setting of the grocery store, and they immediately catch Sammy's attention. He watches as they walk through the store, observing their every move and commenting on their appearance to the reader. Sammy is particularly captivated by the leader of the group, a girl with long blond hair and a "sweet, soft looking can" who he refers to as "The Queen."
As the women shop, Sammy's manager, Lengel, approaches them and asks them to cover up or leave the store. The women refuse, and Lengel reluctantly allows them to continue shopping. Sammy is outraged by Lengel's treatment of the women and decides to quit his job on the spot, telling Lengel that he cannot work for a store that treats its customers like that.
As Sammy walks out of the store, he is aware that his decision to quit will likely have negative consequences for him, as he has no other job prospects and his quitting will disappoint his parents. However, he is also aware that he has taken a stand for something he believes in and has acted in a way that he feels is morally right.
Throughout the story, Updike uses symbols and imagery to explore the theme of conformity and nonconformity. The A & P, with its strict rules and rigid hierarchy, represents the expectations and limitations of society. The women in bathing suits, with their carefree attitude and refusal to adhere to the rules of the store, represent the desire to break free from these constraints and live a more authentic and individualistic life.
Sammy's decision to quit his job and stand up for the women can be seen as a rebellion against the expectations placed on him by society. By choosing to follow his own conscience and values, he is rejecting the idea that he must conform to the rules and expectations of the store and the community in which he lives.
In conclusion, "A & P" is a thought-provoking story that explores the theme of conformity and nonconformity through the character of Sammy and his decision to quit his job. Updike's use of symbols and imagery adds depth to the story and helps to convey its central themes.
