A&P Mini-Essay

I think A&P by Updike is a story about conformity. I believe this because the girls who walked into the store in their swimsuits and barefoot didn't conform to what we believe people should wear in a grocery store. Also, Sammy discusses with himself the attractive features in each girl, and notes what would be considered attractive to most compared to what he found attracted. I also think that Sammy goes against this conformity in the end of the story when he quits. I believe he quit to show the girls that he thought they were mistreated. I think he did it also because the store's manager expected conformity from his employees; wearing the pressed shirt, the apron with their name, and the bow-tie. The story ends with Sammy coming out of the store, still feeling unsure about whether he made the right decision or not; he knows that his parents won't be happy with him quitting, but he wants to follow the girls. Of course, when he gets outside, the girls are no where to be seen and he realizes that he's made a fool of himself. I think he realized that he could make his own decisions, not just in where he'd work, but in all aspects of his life.