Emily Hughes
November 25, 2014
In his story A&P, John Updike condenses an entire adolescence of character development into a single very short and direct scene. Unlike War and A Worn Path, in which conflict is driven by the setting, A&P uses differences in characterization to fuel the conflict and character development. It is the childish rebellion of Queenie and her friends that drives Sammy's character to leave the A&P. Sammy romanticizes their choice to shop in only bathing suits, mistaking their juvenile pride for a better reality. The setting allows Sammy's attraction to these girls to escalate, allowing a climax of conflict when Sammy finally decides to quit his job.
While Sammy's sudden action does demonstrate character development, his departure from the A&P actually fits well within our perception of him as a character. I think this is how Updike creates such a strong sense of familiarity within this bizarre scene. Sammy's decision is certainly surprising, but, for me, this surprise arises more because of the inconsistency presented between Sammy's narration and his actions. We are drawn to trust the narrator, but he gives us no suggestion that he might consider quitting his job.
However, the decision itself makes sense if we reflect on the carefully constructed depiction of Sammy. There is something brash and immature about his departure that feels very consistent with Updike's characterization throughout A&P. We receive this characterization almost immediately, when Sammy describes the old woman at the cash register as the girls first walk in. Sammy's reaction to this woman's distress shows that he does not like conflict. However, he is comfortable enough with his settings to rebel in his own thoughts, calling the customer a "witch" who would have been "burned over in Salem" had she been born much earlier. We begin to feel that Sammy is dissatisfied with his work, but also that he can be easily influenced by his environment, a sort of growing frustration associated with adolescence. When he at last decides to leave the A&P, we are surprised but certainly not shocked into disbelief. Sammy's decision to leave the A&P is consistent with Updike's characterization, making this story authentic and believable.
These are great observations. Achieving the balance between credibility and surprise is one of the hardest challenges in writing a good scene or story. I like the connections you made between that achievement and the character's actions, which are commented on differently by the narrator.
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