Paper 5 Setting Sample

Dr. Sanders

English 1 302 Section 155 ‘

A&P

A&P begins with a store clerk observing a group of girls walk into the store dressed in

swimwear. The girls’ entrance causes the clerk, named Sammy, to make a mistake while ringing up items, for which he is scolded by the customer that he was assisting. After the customer is gone he begins mentally describing the girls’ as they walk through the store, taking note of appearance and mannerisms. He takes particular notice of the girl in the pink suit, identifying her as the leader and dubbing her, “Queenie”. As he watches the girls he has a brief conversation with another clerk. The girls find the item they’re looking for and make their way to Sammy’s checkout line. The store manager sees the girls as they are checking out and confronts them about their attire. The girls protest and after a brief altercation are allowed to leave with their purchase. In response to the manager confronting the girls about their clothing Sammy quits, saying the words loud enough for the girls to hear him. Even though the girls do nothing he follows through with his resignation. The central idea of the story is that individuality is more important than fitting in.

The main character of the story is the register clerk Sammy. He is nineteen years old and is part of an average middle class family. During the story Sammy refers to the customers as sheep, indicating that he finds them to be monotonous in their mindless routine. “The sheep

pushed their carts down the aisle. . . I bet you could set off dynamite in an A&P and the people would by and large keep reaching and checking oatmeal off their lists and muttering. . .” (Updike 1168) When the girls are chastised for their clothing by Lengel, Sammy quits his job. This shows that he believes in being able to express individuality instead of just conforming to societal standards. “Did you say something Sammy?’ ‘I said I quit.’ ‘I thought you did’ ‘You didn’t have to embarrass them.” (Updike 1170)

The main conflict of the story deals with Sammy’s desire to express individuality versus society’s expectations of conformity. The main conflict is resolved by Sammy quitting his job which represents him choosing individuality over conformity. The resolution supports the main idea by prioritizing expression and individualism over society and conformity.

The story is told by Sammy in a first person point of view. For example, “I’m in the third checkout slot, with my back to the door….” (Updike 1167) The point of view affects the story by allowing the reader to have a better understanding of the narrator’s thoughts and beliefs. An example of this is when he says that he believes when you begin a gesture it’s fatal not to go through with it. (Updike 1171)

The setting of the story is an A&P in the middle of a town five miles from the beach. It is a Summer day. The setting is meant to contrast the girls’ attire by presenting a grocery store, which is an organized place, and bathing suits, which are informal and relaxed. The distance from the beach helps to further emphasize the supposed impropriety of their clothing. The tone set by these conflicting subjects is one of tension and unease. The setting helps clarify the central idea by showing the difference between those who choose to follow societal obligations and those who choose instead to follow self expression and individualism.

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