A & P Group

Question:

argent
argent
Student
High School - 12th Grade

How are the following three images at the end of "A & P" related to Sammy's decision to quit his job?

1. The young married woman with her three children screaming about "some candy they didn't get."

2. Sammy's glimpse of Lengel,"his back stiff, as if he'd just had an injection of iron."

3. Outside the store, "the sunshine...skating around on the asphalt."

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Posted by argent on Tuesday July 7, 2009 at 6:44 AM and tagged with characters, job, sammy.

Answers:

  1. dalepowell1962
    dalepowell1962 Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    Let's look at each part of this question in relation to the ending of Updike's "A & P".

    The young married woman with her three children screaming about "some candy they didn't get." A young married woman with three screaming children should be enough to make every teen rethink irresponsible.  Sammy is questioning his own responsibility; he has just quit his job which could be labeled as the height of irresponsiblity, particularly in tough economic times.

    Sammy's glimpse of Lengel,"his back stiff, as if he'd just had an injection of iron." Lengel's injection is his own self-held moral justification for what he has just done.  He did what he perceives to be right and has undoubtedly heard a few of his age contemprary customers tell him he has done "the right thing". Lengel is flying high with righteousness.

    Outside the store, "the sunshine...skating around on the asphalt." This could refer to Sammy's new found freedom--or it could be an assertion that there will be another day for Sammy alluding to the old proverb that the sun will rise tomorrow.

     

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/and-pa/

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    Posted by dalepowell1962 on Tuesday July 7, 2009 at 8:32 AM