A&P

Out of the three suggested themes of the story, the view that “A&P” is a story about conformity seems to have a better fit. In the store, the average customer is described as “sheep” and “houseslaves in pin curlers” (Kirszner/Mandell pg 221). The customer’s are used to a certain atmosphere, a certain flow of shopping that the three girls have disturbed. The girls are simply dressed differently than expected, but causes such a commotion that “the people would by and large keep reaching and checking oatmeal off their lists…But there was no doubt, this jiggled them” (pg 221) and forces an employee to feel obligated to quit his job. Society wants the girls to confirm to their sense of decency, and Sammy wished to right the wrong that he felt was done to them. He did not foresee any alternate way of carrying out his sentiment other than to quit his job, which will most definitely disappoint his parents who may very well depend on his employment to sustain their way of life. Sammy quit his job because he felt convicted to do so: once you start something its best to see it through. He felt that the girls were not treated with the respect due to them, and quit as a show of nonconformity. He would not be like everyone else and just let that happen. He saw himself in Mr. Lengel’s position, and desired for more in life. His epiphany was at the end, when he realized that sometimes in life one can act impulsively and irrationally, especially when faced with a pretty face, and a woman’s reputation to protect.