A by John Updike – Short Essay

Write a critical commentary on lav Updikes A &038 P John Updikes A is written during the early 1960s in America. The gyp story is written in a beginning person account of Sammy, who is a young employee at a store. The tone of the story is rule and sounds as if one were partaking in a conversation with Sammy himself. The story, thus, is more personal. The ref follows Sammys train of thought as he makes observations of events that happen that die up to climax of him quitting his job. Sammy can be seen as one who does non stand start, he is lost amongst the masses.He has an prevalent job, with ordinary co-workers at an ordinary store. This is how the middleclass, or working-class, is seen, especially during that time. When Sammy first sees the three girls that walk into the store with their bathing costumes on in the bread aisle, the reader notices how c befully Sammy watches them. He begins his descriptions of the first two girls and dismisses them for the lack of attraction. He then focuses, and seems to be transfixed, on the ternary girl whom he deems the leader and names her Queenie. One immediately notices that Sammy finds a certain freedom in her beauty.The point that she is barefoot and barely mantled defies the normal code of attire in a shop and so creates a freedom. One could say that he is interested in her for the fact that she does stand out, that she is not seen as ordinary, unlike him. In a sense, Sammy has a rather immature view of the world. When he hears that Queenie has been sent to the shop alone to buy a jar of herring snacks for her mother, Sammy immediately pictures a company of rich and sophisticated people. His creative thinker of well-disposed statuses and class distinctions, could be said, are misguided.He has the idea that money can lead to freedom, and so climbing the social ladder helps gain that goal. When Lengel (the manager) approaches the girls and reproaches Queenie for her lack of clothing Sammy immediately feels the need to ascend to the title of a hero. It is as though he now sees Queenie, the leader, channelise into a damsel in distress, and feels the need to save her from the words of Lengel. It is to the highest degree as though by saving Queenie he go away watch a chance at climbing the social ladder that will lead to his success and freedom.One could also say that Sammy is reaching for individuality, to not only if be an ordinary employee, but be able to become person that stands out as easily as Queenie. Sammy grasps at the romantic idea of a hero and quits his job, yearning to join the girls. However, the girls walk out the store and Sammy is left to talk to Lengel who states that Sammy wouldnt want to do this to his mamma and dad. Sammy is determined to quit. He realises that quitting is a gesture made that has to be followed through.As he stands outside the store, the romantic hero has died within him. The girls are gone and he realises the circumstance he has put himself in and the financial straits he has put his parents in. Updike has given the reader a glance into a situation that changed Sammys life for good. It emphasises how choices can change a persons life and how at that stage can seem insignificant. Updike shows the reader how composite plant life decisions can be. Bibliography A by John Updike The Worlds Greatest Short Stories, edited by James Daley, Dover Publications