Discussion Topic
Before you participate in this discussion, read John Updike's story, "A & P," found on pages 177-181 of Short Fiction: An Anthology, pages 742-746 of The Story and Its Writer, 5th edition, on pages 781-785 of the 6th edition, or on pages 783-787 of the 7th edition.
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Click your reading guide for helpful hints on reading this story.
Post a response to one or more of the questions below. As a follow up, post a response to a classmate's posting. Do you agree or disagree with your classmates' interpretations?
- The first 11 paragraphs provide the exposition for the story. Why is the information gained about Sammy at the beginning of the story vital to the story's development?
- From Sammy's language, what do you learn about him and his view of himself?
- Updike violates rules of standard written English starting in the first line of the story, "In walks these three girls." From the misuse of the preposition, to the running together of adjectives, Updike abandons conventional English to establish, among other things, a conversational tone. What does this accomplish? Did this help entice you into the story, or not?
- Why does Sammy quit his job with so little provocation? Is there any evidence he hates his job? Explain why you think Sammy quit his job, using direct quotations from the story.
- Sammy's voice pulls readers into "A & P." How?
Hints & Tips
- Discussion activities in this course are somewhat more casual than written assignments, but you should still practice basic rules of composition. Use a thesis statement to help frame your answer, and include adequate evidence from the story to back up your assertions. Remember to proofread your answer before posting it.
- Do you prefer reading an essay or discussion question first, before reading the passage itself? Some students find it depends on the genre. Although they may like reading a prose passage first and then examining the question, some suggest they'd rather read the question before tackling a poem. Try it both ways to see which works best for you.
- Note: A & P is a huge grocery chain established in 1859 by the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company.
Scoring
This discussion is worth a maximum of 15 points. You'll get 10 points for your first posting. Your instructor will give you another 5 points if you post a follow-up comment or question that furthers the discussion.
Original: Okay so I read this story and my mind was like "???". What was the point of this? I reread it and still nothing. Clearly his violation of the rules of standard written English make this short passage utterly confusing. I was so lost at the beginning, middle, and at the end. There probably is a deep analysis and message somewhere in here, but I don't see it. Then again, I am better at interpreting poetry. Updike supposedly abandons conventional English to establish a conversational tone, but I don't see it accomplishing anything. And when he quit his job out of nowhere, I was even more lost. My thoughts: "What just happened? Where'd that come from?" It was a really random story. So he quit his job to stand up for the "dignity" of some girls who'd rather notice an apparently old man instead of someone their own age. And he goes through with it because "It seems to me that once you begin a gesture it's fatal not to go through with it." Um, not if they're not noticing you and especially, if you know it's going to ruin your life. To sum it all up: Pointless.
ReplyDeleteOriginal:
ReplyDeleteFrom reading this piece, it is apparent that Sammy narrates this story in first person. His voice is conversational and friendly. His speech is informal, a aspect that exemplifies his individuality and tendency to question those in power. His use of slang, such as when describes the dollar bill that had “just come from between the two smoothest scoops of vanilla I had ever known” distinguish him as a practically average teenage boy. Using the present tense to make the story seem abrupt, he speaks as if to a friend—“I uncrease the bill, tenderly as you may imagine”—drawing the reader instantly to his side. Everything that happens, the reader sees through his eyes. When the girls in bathing suits vanish from his view, they vanish from the reader’s view, as well.
With this being said, in terms of rhetoric, Sammy’s diction indicates that he is probably not a well-educated person. “In walks these three girls,” he says at the very beginning of the story. He also uses a kind of wisecracking slang when talking to Stokesie. Yet, because of the closeness of his voice, he seems to be a dependable narrator, telling the truth even when it does not flatter him.
To Justin:
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that Sammy is being distinguished as any other teenage boy, but I don't understand the point of John Updike writing this short story. I also agree that the reader is looking at the story only through Sammy's point of view rather than taking the story and looking at it through everyone's eyes. In my earlier comment, I wrote that I don't understand the story mostly because of how Sammy speaks, but now that I think of it, I lied. It's not that I don't understand, it's that I don't usually read this type of slang, but I recognize this, because this is how I speak. I don't speak in conventional English, but that doesn't make me uneducated. I'm sure you, as well as everyone else, writes differently from how they speak and that isn't a bad thing at all.
Original:
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Updike abandons the rules of Standard English to make Sammy and the story more relatable. I find that when I better connect to a story line, I am more able to take on the perspective of the main character. As a result, I feel as though I am watching the story occur from Sammy’s perspective, rather than just reading it. This strategy definitely helps me entice into the story. In addition, Sammy’s voice, made up of slang and improper English, drew me into the story. The act of using oversimplified grammar ensures the reader will understand the writing‘s meaning. It also brings a relaxed or informal tone to the writing.
To Justin,
ReplyDeleteI agree that through the use of Sammy's improper diction Updike is able to draw the reader in. However, I don't think one can identify Sammy's intellect based on his way of speaking. As Christian stated, many people present day speak in slang and improper english. This does not make them uneducated. In my opinion, slang is just a rhetoric device used to make a piece or writing hold a more relaxed tone.
To Maggie & Christian:
ReplyDeleteI concur that improper English or language does not make one uneducated, I should've clarified what I meant. In terms of the context I believe that it made him seem uneducated, not that it applies to all individuals who tend to use improper English or slang. I myself use it especially around friends, and those who I am comfortable with. I agree that many people today speak in slang and improper english, but it doesn't determine that level of intellect. I meant in terms of context, not in real world situations :).
Original:
ReplyDeleteUpdike starts this short story off with the sentence "In walks these three girls in nothing but bathing suits" to captivate the reader. By composing this sentence without abiding by the rules of standard written English I immediately get the idea, here comes trouble. Sammy is an average teenage boy possibly sharing his experience with a close friend, the reader. This structure makes the reader more inclined to listen to Sammy. The way Sammy describes the first girl's "can" is completely normal for his age, no wonder he lapsed on the job. Even when he asks himself "Do you really think its a mind...", Updike acknowledges the thought that every young man has at least once in their life, if not more. I found it interesting that Sammy refers to the leader as "Queenie". This label puts her on a pedestal, yet he mentions her flaws. I also thought that the simile of the grocery store being like a "pinball machine" was clever because it was childlike and portrayed Sammy's state of mind clearly. Sammy quit his job on principle and instinct even though he admits, to himself, that he is wrong. His manager Lengel symbolizes the law and societies standards at the time. The girls were not allowed to shop in the store wearing bathing suits and Sammy supported them. At his age Sammy is still trying to decipher what's right and wrong. He quits because he thinks that its the right thing to do. However, afterwards he realizes "...how hard the world was going to be" and that the world might be full of more gray areas as opposed to black or white. Sammy reminds me of Holden from The Catcher in the Rye because he learns the ramifications, the good and the bad, of making a decision.
Origional:I think that the language in the short story further helped me adapt to the narrorator. One can put aside the fact that the narrator is practicing inncorrect grammer and improper English and focus on the meanings of his direct remarks. I believe that Sammy has grown tired of his every day ritual inside A & P and used the girls as an excuse to quit. He even goes to the extreme of dehumanizing people in the supermarket. This action entertains Sammy in a way and further emphasizes his presence as an observer , an outsider to the real of reality. I think ultimatly him quiting was a way of being bold , a "hero" as Updike put it, escaping the rehearsed play he knew so well and go into the unknown.He is facing uncertainity in his furture because he is now unemployed as well.
ReplyDeleteOriginal: Updike clearly attempts and achieves to make Sammys tone more casual and relatable by ignoring the rules of Standard English. Usually this decision assists in creating a stronger relationship among both the reader and the short story or novel by making it seem as though the main character, in this case Sammy is talking directly to you as opposed to a more formal form of speech where you have to create your own connection. Although the technique is effective I personally felt the subject matter a little uncomfortable to read based on the fact that it was so descriptive and so casual.
ReplyDeleteTo Maggie:
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the fact that by abandoning the rules of Standard English Updike was able to create a casual and relatable storyline that easily drew the reader in. Sammy was so detailed in his descriptions that i even began to feel the embarressment of the girl and uncomfortable. Although I understand where you're coming from with the statement "the act of using oversimplified grammar ensures the reader will understand the writings meaning," In this case i feel that the oversimplification was almost too over simplified which made analyzing a deeper meaning difficult.
Sammy is very attentive and his attention extremely selective. The way he perceives things and processes things in his mind, especially appearance, translates into his actions and his thoughts towards others. Sammy’s encounter with those three girls in swimsuits in the grocery store where he works is about being young and making mistakes. Sammy seems like any other teenage boy: he likes girls, he wants be something more than he is, and he tries to prove himself. The beginning of the story, the first line really, it bring about an unorthodox setting that is befitting for the plot. It just seems different. Sammy quits his job the way he does because he wants to appear to be upstanding and dignified. Sammy quits his job to impress the girls. When he quits his job his mind goes “remembering how he made that pretty girl blush makes me so scrunchy inside I punch the No Sale tab” and when he goes outside “I look around for my girls, but they're gone, of course.” The girls he quit for were nowhere to be found. It was a buzz kill for him. Sammy’s voice is alluring because it is that awkward, attentive, and angry teenager voice. It’s constantly changing through tone. By the end he’s completely frustrated and then accepting. His tone trickles down from the end to the deep end from the beginning of the story to very end.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJohn Updike's "A&P" is an enticing story not only because of the interesting character Sammy but also because of the language that Sammy uses. Sammy defies conventions of standard English, which creates for a compelling and relatable piece. For example, Sammy states that "Queenie" "had on a kind of dirty pink" bathing suit. Instead of saying that her bathing suit was flamingo pink or rose pink, he uses some derivative of these colors. This mimics the way people speak in their everyday lives, which shows the informality of Sammy. The language also reflects that of a nineteen year old boy. That is, his language is immature and ,quite frankly, perverted. For example, he describes the girl's form as "the two smoothest scoops of vanilla". Furthermore, his language shows that he does not have passion or zeal about anything including his job and even himself. This is due to his boring life working at the store. When the girls walked in with their bathing suits, he becomes excited. This furthers his immaturity and boredom level since he cares only about girls and sexuality. He quits his job because the girls were scolded by the store owner but realizes that this was a foolish act since the girls paid no mind to him. He is reminded of reality at the end of the story through symbolism, including the woman screaming at her kids, the peat moss, and the aluminum furniture, as well as the realization that his "world was going to be" "hard" "hereafter". The story's theme reflects that all that glitters is not what it seems in the end and may not be worth the trouble of going through for.
ReplyDeleteTo Ellysa: I really like your analysis of Updike's short story. I feel as if I have a better understanding now of the story than I did before. I especially liked the way you analyzed almost every bit of Sammy's actions and related the reasons for his actions to one central theme. That is, Sammy is a teenage boy that is still distinguishing between right and wrong in his life, and whose mind has not yet ripened.
ReplyDeleteOriginal:
ReplyDeleteA&P by John Updike is an interesting short story about a young man who works at a check-out line at a supermarket in a small town near Boston. This story is written through the main character's point of view. Sammy's language indicates that he has quite a bit of maturing to go through. The way he describes the girls, as if they were inanimate objects, indicates that Sammy does not believe that the girls deserve respect. Quite frankly, Sammy is one of those guys that like to flirt with customers no matter what. Most girls have come across this type of guy at a check-out counter and it comes across as pathetic. Even Sammy's supposedly heroic gesture at the end of the story was only an attempt to impress the girls. However, he realizes his mistake once he steps outside the supermarket and realizes how difficult his life is going to be from that point on.
To Tara:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you concerning the fact that John Updike deliberately goes against the standard english rules because he wants the readers to be able to connect to the story easily. By removing the barrier that is the rules of standard english, Updike manages to foster the relationship between the reader and the short story. This allows for a more memorable time for the reader, thus leaving behind th eimpression most literary pieces are supposed to.
original:
ReplyDeleteLet me begin by saying that I enjoyed this story. The fact that Updike goes against the conventions of Standard English engages me. This is not done by Updike accidently, which it never is when done by authors. The reason that he does this is because the story is not formal; it is simply Sammy’s perception of occurrences and situations that have taken place at his job. The reason it is written in this way is to make the situations more personable. The author wants the reader to be able to easily identify with the main character. Sammy is thinking in this informal manner, therefore the author writes the story in this informal manner so that we are as close to Sammy’s situation, perception, and thoughts as possible. The way the story is written is the way that Sammy is thinking, if he are reading exactly what he is thinking we are able to identify with him more hence become one with him, his thoughts, situations, and perceptions. This brings the engagement of the reader to a heightened lever.
When reading the story from its surface it may seem as if Sammy quit his job for his desire to be noticed by girls, like any teenage boy would want to be. This may be justified because when he and Lengel are having the conversation concerning him quitting, he says, “You didn’t have to embarrass them.” The fact that he makes this statement when they are speaking of him quitting, makes it seem like he is quitting because he wants the females to notice him and find him noble. Him quitting in their honor, would be taken as him defending them and standing up for them to the person who embarrassed them.
However, subtle hints show that Sammy didn’t find working at A&P to be an ideal job. For example, he constantly referred to the customers as animals, such as, “pigs” and “sheep.” Animals are thought to be below people hence the fact that he is lowering their status to one of an animal, shows his disdain for them. In addition, when describing Lengel, his manager, he uses words that have negative connotations, including the word dreary. By calling him dreary it implies that he dreaded seeing him and being around him. If one doesn’t like the people that they are around constantly at their job, they cannot possibly like their job. He also speaks of the production of products sold at his store being a waste. The fact that he doesn’t appreciate things sold there also shows that he doesn’t like his job. The fact that he also speaks of the task of a cashier being complex and that it makes a song after awhile, shows that he finds his job annoying and difficult, which also implies that he doesn’t like his job.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTo Sherifa:
ReplyDeleteI agree with yu that the language of the story expresses the immaturity and boredom present in Sammy's personality. His age is reflected through the language because the language shows the way his mind works. The way he refers to the young lady's bosom shows that he thinks in a preverted manner, which yu stated, and usually younger males have that mentality
Original:
ReplyDeleteJohn Updike’s short story “A & P” is an interesting story about a young man, Sammy, who works as a cashier in his local grocery store. The story, which is told in Sammy’s point of view, is about the day “In walks these three girls in nothing but bathing suits”, and his life changing few minutes with them. In the beginning of the story, you realize that Sammy is not as mature as you would initially believe him to be. Also from his tone in the beginning of the story, you can tell that Sammy has not discovered his purpose in life yet. He is probably fresh out of school, which you can tell from his historic reference to Salem, and is working at the supermarket to earn a little money. From Sammy’s language you learn that he is although educated, a very simple minded and reacts like a normal nineteen year old boy. By saying “You never know for sure how girls' minds work (do you really think it's a mind in there or just a little buzz like a bee in a glassjar?)”, Sammy demonstrates his immaturity and childishness. By abandoning conventional English in order to establish a conversational tone, Updike creates an attention grabber for readers. There is no evidence that Sammy hated his job, however, I believe Sammy quit his job because he realized that there was more to life than working in a supermarket. I think after his visualization of the society in which “Queenie” comes from, he realized that there is so much life that he hasn’t seen. Sammy’s voice pulls readers into “A &P” because it is something the readers can relate to. He is a nineteen year old boy who is tired of following the rules, and even though he realizes how “hard” the world is going to be after he quit his job, he has to “suck it up” and tough it out.
To Jessica:
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. Sammy does use the girls as an excuse to escape society. I also agree with you in thinking that the language used by the author created a connection from the reader to Sammy. It is like we as the reader feel exactly what he is going through, the questioning of our place in society, and the initial sense to rebel against society and surrender to our curiosity.
To Shevana:
ReplyDeleteI think your right about Sammy being tired of the rules mostly because of the fact that he is a teenager. Every teenager defies the rules at one point in their life. Maybe Updikes purpose for writing this short story was to show how impressionable an experience can be on a young persons personality and perspective. It amazes me that Updike was able to just end the story with him walking out because as a reader I wanted to know if everything worked out for him, mostly because I like happy endings.
Original:
ReplyDeleteThe information gained about sammy at the beginning of the novel is vital because since he works at A&P he draws attention to people since the store is always so empty and you can also tell the type of person he is, which I assumed to be a slacker and observational person. From Sammy's language you can tell he views himself very ordinary and speaks his mind to himself. He isnt afraid to state something in this short story, he keeps it straight forward almost like we(the reader)are his subconscience, his inner thoughts. By the use of violating the rules of standard written english the reader can be more at ease with the reading, and almost seems as if its in modern day life and connect better to the narrator. The use of this language did make me grasp the meaning of the reading much better. Sammy quits his job due to the strict rules, being a teenager he is not able to be so grounded with rules; when the 3 girls in bathing suits arrive it just makes his decision to quit more clear. His voice is very urban like and connects to teen readers through the use of his improper grammar.
To Maggie:
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% with your answers, by the author not writing in the rules of standard english it allows the story of Sammy to be easier for the reader to understand and connect to the story line as you stated. I didn't notice that during the reading I was there watching it played out, rather than reading any other story. Great Analysis !
To Ellysa,
ReplyDeleteI think that happy endings are acceptable but wouldn't it be completly predictable if ALL stories ended with lovers being together or a cashier keeping his job at A&P ? :)
Original: When I first read the story I was becoming frustrated because I felt like the narrator, John Updike, was going on way too many different tangents. This made it hard for me to understand the whole point of the story and it made me a little discouraged to even attempt to read it again. Well I did read it again, and I find that Updike's failure to acknowledge the conventional standards of written English is enticing. Upon first reading it, it actually reminded me of a piece of literature that I read titled, "Nobody Mean More to Me Than You and the Future of Willie Jordan' by June Jordan. This story also made me a little flustered and close minded when I first read it. But just like the June Jordan piece, when I read A & P again I began to appreciate it. I believe that Updike creates a personable tone through the use of slang. Updike knows who he is and he does not try to hide it by conforming to a standard that has been set by our society. I get the sense that I know who Updike is and that he wants to relate with his readers by telling the story solely through his point of view, walking us through every step and being extremely descriptive along the way.
ReplyDeleteTo Naomi: I completely agree with you that the reader gets a sense that they are Updike's inner thoughts. It was like the reader had on a lens that let us see exactly what Updike saw and how he felt while seeing these things.
ReplyDeleteOriginal:
ReplyDeleteUpdikes uncovential use of English in "A&P" make the story more personal. It brings the reader into the story almost as if Sammy and the reader themselves are having a conveerstation. It makes the story as well as Sammy more relatable. The informal language and tone makes the piece seem more realistic.
Also the language tells alot about Sammy himself. He is a typical teenager, who is working a job job he doesnt really like, and like most teenagers he starts to watch the people in this case the girls and comments on what they are doing aroud the store. The fact that Sammy is a regular kid makes him more relatable and easier to understand
Original:
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this story, I've heard a male voice in my head. And this voice helped me fully understand this story. Updike uses so much imagery with Sammy, which is essential for the reader to fully analyze the story. Sammy is like an average teenage boy. When a teenage boy see girls in bathing suits his eyes are glued to girls in the bathing suits and will be completely mesmorized. Once Sammy's boss told the girls how inappropriate their appearance was in a supermarket, Sammy got frustrated, so frustrated, he quit his job. He walked to the parking lot, expecting the girls to be there praising him, and saw no one. At that instant, he realized how much of a mistake he made. A lesson that this story showed was that with every action, there is a consequence!
To Shevana:
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your veiw of Sammy as an immature simple minded teen. Do you think thats part of the reason teenagers can relate because at some point in life everyone acts a little immature. So even if the reader is not a little further along in life then where Sammy was in "A&P" the reader can look back and recall that time period in their life
To Tara :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your response. Since he is speaking like how we usually speak, it is so much easier to understand. And I did too find many parts of this story hard to read since it was so descriptive.... eg. the chubby girl in the bathing suit.
Sammy is any regular teenage boy, out to prove himself to a few girls. But if that is the prupose of this short story, why was there such a description in the beginning? The conversational tone did draw me in a little more then if it was written in standard english, but I still see no point for the elongated beginning of the story. The tone makes you think you are inside of Sammys head, which draws th reader closer. The first few lines, are obviously used to set the setting, but after that I found myself loosing interest. The end was enticing as sammy quit his job, for a ridiculous reason, but its something any teenage boy would consider doing. He did not hate his job, it was his immaturity and niavness that lead to that. He probably thought quitting would make him look manly, to stand up to his boss. But the story shows, that is no the case. It is mentioned after, that his mother ironed his shirt, and his parents actually helped get his job. So the irony is, in trying to potray himself as a man, he made himself weaker. And also, did not get the girls.
ReplyDeleteTo Jalin:
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your analysis. Sammy was mesmerized by the girls in their outfits, and thus his immaturity lead to his downfall. He let his emotions lead to him quitting his job. But the sad truth is this is something that could possibly happen to all of us as teens.
I found the short story "A&P" extremely interesting. Updike was able to go against the "norm" of the sixties and right about what actually goes through teenage boys minds. It is said that most novels that were written decades ago have a secret meaning or relation to sexual ties. Updike flips the switch, letting the audience become pulled into the protagonists mind of what someone really thinks. Not only does he exploit sex, I think he creates a story behind the blunt exterior. Queenie serves as Sammy's "wake up call". Sammy is from the suburbs, symbolizing a routine-filled, conservative life. In walks Queenie, someone who goes completely against Sammy's virtues. This might show a bchange approaching in Sammy's life
ReplyDeleteTo Xander: I totally agree about how Sammys tone drags the reader in. With long, dragged out sentances, the audience feels like they are with Sammy. This works remarkably but is very informal -tj
ReplyDeleteI suppose this was rather spoiled for me during class today, but I'll write what I thought before I gained the deeper understanding of what happened. I believed that the exposition and everything including the way he wrote was important because it established his character and what was going through his mind to explain his actions later in the short story. The language worked towards showing how "normal" this adolescent was, and that it was written in a straight thought process form let us into his mind and was inviting. As for the reason he quit his job, he quit because he wanted to impress the girls, because they were something different and exciting to him that he wanted to pursue and felt that his job would hold him back from.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading this story, I was completely amazed by the blatant misuse of grammar that Updike uses in it. The rebellion and the decision to go aganist the status quo in the mechanics of his story was intertwined with the central idea. The time period where Updike places his protagonist Sammy in, is a conservative middle class society, in where the social norm and traditions are followed.The year 1968, is approximately around the Vietnam War, where there was alot of anti-war sentiments bewing and the level of trust among individuals where at an all time low. Placing an antagonist Queenie, as an idol to Sammy proved that the social norm of society was being pushed beyond its limits. Queenie, in my opinion was not only an idol and an object to Sammy, but she was a symbol of rebellion and "danger" . Queenie can be conisdered danger becuase she does not follow the traditions of her society and by reveling herself in a sexual fashion, Sammy is placed under the influence of the image of desire. I believed that Sammy was frustrated and needed a way out of the conformity but was not motivataed to risk safety and security, until Queenie entered.
ReplyDeleteIn Response to Xander...
ReplyDeleteFirstly, wow you definitely took that a bit literal when reading the story. I agree that his immaturity did lead to the loss of his job, but there could have been other personal conflicts that the author did not mention in the excerpted version of his story that may have led to a final release for Sammy. When I say release, I mean an end to the norm in his life.
When I first began to read, I kept thinking to myself: Why is he calling her fat? Is he being sarcastic? Then I had to dig deeper into it to realize that in Sammy's eyes...her thickness was a plus! At that moment I began to look at the text differently. Just as the central theme for the story was about going against the odds, going astray from the norm, Sammy's thinking was the same for Queenie. Naturally, when someone is called "chunky" or "chubby", some people think of overweight, possibly unattractive, or dorky type people. Contrarily, Sammy found Queenie's curves to be beautiful, and was lured in by just that.
ReplyDeleteTo TJ...
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with what you said about the fact that we got to see what really goes on in a teenage boy's mind. One thing I like, is when I'm able to relate to something I'm reading. I obviously won't have much to connect with a teenage boy, but I'm sure teenage boys who read A&P would feel as if they can relate, which will essentially engage them into the reading.
Like many have already said, Sammy pulls with his rhythmic yet common use of the English language. He doesn't speak down to the reader, in fact he treats the reader as if he/she is his best friend or even the little voice in his head.
ReplyDeleteThe author of the story makes Sammy a very relate-able character by giving him the traits of a teen, as viewed by society. The power to relate to a character is key, you begin to see things in new light and interpret key symbols through out the story.
Viewing Sammy as a representation of teen aged boys in society I was able to put Queenie in the role of temptation.
In short, by making the character relate-able, the reader is able to view the possible symbols at an entirely new depth.
To Shinece:
ReplyDeleteThat's right, I didn't think about the danger aspect of it all. Not only did she seem new and exciting, but also dangerous, and Sammy decided to go chase after that which landed himself into a deep amount of trouble. I found it interesting how much the context changed the meaning of it all. (Because I didn't really know it at first, which was a big oversight on my part.)
To: Alex
ReplyDeleteI never would have thought of Queenie as temptation. Kind of reminds me of the whole Adam, Eve, snake, and apple story.
By Updike choosing to ignore the rules of standard written English, he not only makes the story relatable but gives it the feeling like you're on the other side having the conversation with Sammy. This definitely helps entice you into the story to bring it down to a more common associatable level.
ReplyDeleteOriginal:
ReplyDeleteFrom Sammy's language, we can see that he's just a normal teenage boy trying to make a living in the summer. He uses slang and phrases a teenage boy would use, and the way he relates himself to the girls in the aisle makes it seem like he views himself as inferior to them, or, at least, to Queenie, similar to many teenage boys. He seems to be a bit insecure when attractive teenage girls enter his place of work, and his actions work hand-in-hand with his words to show this self-consciousness. When recalling the story, he notes that he has a different emotional view than his family when it come to "the sad part of the story," which further exemplifies his teenage mindset.
To Christina:
ReplyDeleteI agree completely. The lack of Standard English makes the story feel less formal and more like a casual coversation with a friend. It allows you to better relate with Sammy, which entices you stay involved with the story as it's being told.