Social Class in A & P by John Updike :: essays research papers

In the story, A&P by John Updike, the student identifies the differences of social classes betwixt Sammy, a checkout clerk and Queenie, a wealthy daughter that visits the store. Though not from the same class structure, Sammy is compelled to interact with the girl, that fails in doing so because she is considered privileged. As the student begins his essay, he points out that Sammy is part of the lower class structure. He is an eighteen-year-old boy who is working as a checkout clerk in an A&P in a small New England town five miles from the beach (2191). While working an afternoon shift on Thursday, he notices these girls in nothing but bathing suits (2191) enter the store. It is in this scene that the student begins to identify the differences between the group of girls and Sammy. As the student develops his essay, Sammy begins to analyze the girls to other customers in the store. From houseslaves in pin curlers to an old party in b aggy gray pants (2192 ), Sammy negatively characterizes customers in contrast to the leader of the girls, Queenie. To Sammy, the girl is someone that is not from their town. She is everything that every girl envies and wants to be. In contrast to Sammy, she will spend her summer vacationing while he spends it working. It is clear to Sammy that their worlds are different, however it is also obvious that he would like to explore hers. The story unfolds when, Lengel, the stores manager (2191) confronts the girls because they are dressed inappropriately. To Sammy, it is a moment of embarrassment and in defiance he quits his job. The student suggests that in quitting, Sammy challenges social inequality and is a person who is trying to