A&P By John Updike: The Theme Of The Consequences Of Desire
“I said I quit”. A lot of people at some point of their lives wish they had said this, but not Sammy, the protagonist in John Updike’s “A&P”. Sammy is a 19-year-old cashier working at A&P. He is working as usual on a typical Thursday afternoon, when Queenie and her friends walk into the store in bathing suits, and become the center of attention. Later, the manager, Lengel comes back, and tells the girls off for being dressed disrespectfully. Sammy then quits his job to stand up for the girls, and as a protest against the social norms. This seemingly heroic act, however, comes with consequences.
In “A&P”, Updike develops the theme of the consequences of desire using the characters: Sammy, Queenie, and Lengel. Sammy’s desires for Queenie and to break through from the norms lead him to a difficult life he must face alone. As he unfolds the note, he comments, “it just having come from between the two smoothest scoops of vanilla”. He imagines Queenie’s breasts feel as soft and sweet as vanilla ice cream, suggesting his sexual desire towards Queenie. His hormonal rush prompts him to act impulsively: quitting his job to defend Queenie with the hope that she would recognize him. Yet, he is only left unrecognized and unemployed. Besides sexual attraction, Sammy also admires Queenie’s rebellion. Sammy dislikes policies, and despises the fact that “what others want is juvenile delinquency” in the kingpins’ eyes. He says this sarcastically, because he does not see the girls’ behavior as an offense, but as a cry for liberation.
Sammy quits to challenge traditions and social beliefs. However, He must learn that life is going to be hard afterwards, because no employers would like to hire an irresponsible teenager who quits unreasonably. Queenie desires to deviate from norms just like Sammy, but more than that, she also desires sexual attention, and is consequently humiliated. As she walks around the store, she “does not look around… just walks straight on slowly”. This implies that she knows people are watching her. Therefore, she exaggerates her movements: walks rather slowly, and “holds her head so high”, to keep people’s attention on her. She successfully grabs everybody’s attention, but at the same time, she puts herself in a risky position as she is sexually objectified. In addition to that, her desire brings embarrassment upon herself. After Lengel tells her off, she argues “they are decent” with “her lower lips pushing, and perhaps getting sore, ” but “the herring snacks flashed in her eyes”. Her gestures suggest that she is angry and ashamed to be confronted publicly. She could not look in Lengel in the eye, because she knows that she does not have valid arguments to support her rebellious actions. It is the society against her, so she is bound to be humiliated as a result of her irrational decision: to wear bathing suits “under fluorescent lights”.
In contrast of what Sammy and Queenie want, Lengel desires conformity. Hence, he sits on the top as the manager. When Queenie insists that she is decent, Lengel says, “We want you decently dressed when you come in here”. Lengel uses “we” instead of “I”; this indicates that he groups himself with the majority, and alienates the girls- they are not a part of “we. ” Conforming to the conventions gives Lengel the power to humiliate the girls. Although Lengel gains control and position, ironically, he feels impotent: “Lengel’s face is dark gray and his back stiff, as if he’d just had an injection of iron”. The colors fade on Lengel’s face as he is tired of constantly needing to stay uptight and follow the rules. However, he is helpless; there is nothing he could do besides “injecting more iron” in himself- persists in abiding rules- because he knows that behaving according to the socially acceptable standard gives him authority, and it is the only way to survive in that society.
Updike in “A&P” explores the theme of the consequences of desires with the readers by creating three characters in his short story. He stresses that everyone has desires, so do the fictional characters, Sammy, Queenie, and Lengel. It is normal to have desires, but one has to understand that desires come with certain consequence, and take responsibility of his actions taken to fulfill his wishes.
