John Updikes Eminent Story A & P - Essay Example

The bathing suit of the three girls, the trait of sheep in workers and customers of A & P grocery store, and Herring snack bars symbolized a brand of wealth and designated the lead girl among the three; Queenies.

The literary term under analysis in this essay is “Sheep”. The author has used personification through its usage and has shown the distinction between followers and leaders. Thus, the “sheep” denotes a specific clan of people, who would rather stick to the prevailing norms, rules, and under commandments of a leader. Their subordination is mainly due to their pecuniary constraints and also because of their social position in society.

Thus, the author has portrayed their presence as mundane in a colloquial tone, and through Sammy’s character he has evaluated their presence as humdrum and they're routine monotonous. Therefore, Sammy as a representative of youth has been depicted as an appreciator of distinction, rebellion, and change (Porter, p.1155). Hence, he looks at those “sheep” with abhor and abominates their trait of being a subordinate. Subsequently, he observes their apprehension towards revolution, their reluctance, and fear for a change, which could havoc their perfectly constructed so-called peace.

“Sheep pushing their carts down the aisle” (Bishop, p.228)
Thus, “sheep” has been used to symbolize conformity without being rational at all. This sheepish trait instilled in the people made them dull, cowardly, and subordinate to superior powers like money, authority and pre-set social norms. Hence, these dominating social authorities of the 1960 era have developed and set their (Sheep) course of life and left them with little power of opinion on their own. Therefore, Queen’s rebellion against the dress code in the A & P grocery store and Sammy’s rebellion towards instinctive relinquishment of his job are prime examples of the uproar of revolution.

Strokes and Legal have also been depicted as “sheep” like, who would think, act, dress, and conduct like the rest of the sheep clan. However, they do lure for the different, but do not dare to appreciate, encourage or be optimistic about the change. They prefer to stick to their sheep clan as it’s the known and safe path for them. On the other hand, Queenie (the leader) and her two friends; signified being different, thus, they separated themselves from the others through their bathing suit style and did not show a hint of embarrassment throughout their walk around the aisles.

Updike has used Sammy’s view to portray the customers as sheep too (Kirszner & Stephen, p. 363, 2004). As they walked, flocked, acted, and contemplate in the same pattern as sheep. They loathed the change and new flock (three girls), but couldn’t keep the awe-stricken expressions out of their faces at all. The figurative “sheep” moved up and down the aisles, one behind the other in a similar patron hence, they liked the familiarity and opposed the change in any form.

Initially, Sammy couldn’t help but be a hormone-driven boy, who also praised the bare flesh of the three girls like other people in the store, but later in the story, he realized his inclination and fascination towards these girls is due to their courage of taking a stand for their individuality. Hence, the author has laid great emphasis on individuality, which further buffs up the freedom to express this trait.

Thus, one can observe that Sammy has no respect for the regular customers, workers, or sheep of society, as he craved revolution, which would enable him to enjoy the freedom he has been yearning for. The freedom for distinction and the liberty for respecting it, yet Sammy belongs to the middle class where distinction means bad rapport. However, Queen was from the upper class and the distinction through the bathing suit in the mart was only seen with skepticism by themiddle-classs “sheep”. Conversely, Sammy appreciated and was fascinated by this bold attempt to change and took a step towards admiring it, although, he was aware of the grave consequences his wrong decision would bring on him and his family (Kirszner & Stephen, p.84, 1994). Read More