A & P

The story A & P is about conformity because of the way that the character Sammy deals with the events that occur. When the three girls walk into the A & P store, Sammy is instantly fixated on them. It seems as though everyone is watching them, but the way that Sammy admires them for coming in the store with just their bathing suits on combined with his attraction towards the one he calls queenie, adds feeling and depth to Sammy’s character. As the girls move casually up and down the aisles, Sammy is constantly making more observations about them. The more observations he makes, the stronger his connection or admiration becomes. Sammy not only admires Queenie, but he is very intimidated by her, " Still with that prim look she lifts a folded dollar bill out of the hollow at the center of her nubbled pink top. The jar went heavy in my hand"(Updike, 222). Sammy also notices the discomfort of the customers over the way the girls are dressed. This only adds to his admiration. When his manager comes in the store and notices the girls he gives them a hard time. Sammy views this as excessive and decides that it was so unfair that he must quit instead of conform to the managers and the customers close minded views. Sammy’s final epiphany occurs when he tells Lengel fiddle-de-doo. It seems as though he didn’t know what to say to Lengel and the saying that his grandmother used to say just fell out of his mouth. By the time it did he realizes that it was the perfect thing to say and he must quit.