How the Characters from John Updike's A & P Would Fit into Contemporary Society

John Updike's short story A & P is really a story about following tradition vs. breaking tradition, conventional vs. nonconformity, conservative vs. free spirited. People of a certain mindset cannot help but admire Sammy's courage in standing up to the "system." At the same time the reader knows he won't get anywhere. Sammy and the girls would absolutely function in the world today, much the same way they function in ours.

The girls represent frivolity and fun. They don't want to follow the rules. They enter the store in their bathing suits and do not care that everyone is looking at them. There will always be those who don't want to function in the way of the majority. There will always be those to which life is carefree.

Mr. Lengel is also represented well in the world today. He represents the world of work and laws. "Girls, I don't want to argue with you. After this come in here with your shoulders covered. It's our policy" (6). Mr. Lengel feels that these girls are desecrating his place of business with their skimpy attire, but he still takes their money. Mr. Lengel is a rule-maker and a rule-follower. He is not content to let people go their own way or do their own thing. Today, we have many Lengels. Think about anyone who wants to pass a law against abortion or same sex marriage. For these people, it is not enough that they simply will not have an abortion or marry a same-sex partner. They feel the need to legislate for everyone; they are not content to let people "march to their own drummer." This is exactly what Lengel feels.

Sammy is a free spririted youth who feels that these girls should be able to buy snacks in their bathing suits. Even if they are turning guy's heads, who cares? Certainly there are many Sammy's in the world, and the world is a harder place for them. While everyone around them want to make rules and laws, these people are content to let people do their own thing. Just like in A & P, the Lengels usually outrank and outnumber the Sammy's. Mr. Lengel's outlook on life is narrow; Sammy's is wide and broad and able to accommodate many different types of people. To live in the world, the Sammy's will have to "buckle under" to the Lengel's over and over again. But every so often, the Sammy's will take a stand to help them remember who they really are. The reader knows his life will be more difficult as does Sammy. When Lengel says, "You'll feel this for the rest of your life," Sammy thinks, "and I know that's true" (5). The last line of the story is "I felt how hard the world has going to be hereafter" (6). Sammy understands his rare predicament.

And of course, the sheep remain. These are the average Joes pushing their shopping carts through the store, not deviating from their daily routines. They react with bewildered amazement to the appearance of the girls, and look around to see what will happen. In the end, when the girls exit the store, they check out as Lengel rings up their purchases. This episode has not affected their daily lives one iota. They act like the people who stop at the scenes of accidents to gawk and then go home and eat their suppers as though nothing has happened.

As much as most people would love to believe the world has changed since the writing of Updike's A & P, it is clear that they haven't. These characters could function well in today's world, although the girls showing their bodies would not be as big of a deal. They would need to do something more shocking. However, the girls still exist. People like Lengel will stop them from doing what they want to do. The very rare Sammy will stand up against the system, and the sheep will go on with their lives no matter what.

WORKS CITED

Updike, John, A & P, Retrieved April 18, 2007 at http://www.tiger-town.com/whatnot/updike/