A&P

Interpretation of John Updike's "A&P"

        Getting a first impression of somebody is important for the interpretation you receive from that individual, but do you think the physical appearance has more of an effect on a first impression or someone’s personality? In the short story, "A&P," appearance has a huge impact on the first impression of the three girls and the reactions that took place from the appearance.  "It takes just a quick glance, maybe three seconds, for someone to evaluate you when you meet for the first time. In this short time, the other person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed." (Making a Great First Impression). With that being said, physical appearance has higher influential standards when it comes to receiving a first impression of someone, especially in the short story "A&P", written by John Updike. “In walk these three girls in nothing but bathing suits” (Updike, A&P). In the anecdote “A&P,” the appearance and wardrobe of the three females that walked into the corner store influenced an employee to quit his job after an outburst from his manager. The shock from the girl’s bikini wear was caused from the time frame in which the story took place and the location of the store. He believed he was in the act of heroism when he quit, but when realization of life occurred he regret his actions of quitting. All of the commotion was caused by three girls wearing bikinis.

        The sight of a physically fit female tends to be enjoyable, especially from a man’s point of view. In the short story, “A&P,” written by John Updike, the surrounding of the store had a strong influence on the first impression of the three girls that was given to the employees. The cashier, Sammy, really watched the way the females presented themselves. “She came down a little hard on her heels, as if she didn’t walk in her bare feet that much, putting down her heels and then letting the weight move along to her toes as if she was testing the floor with every step, putting a little deliberate action into it” (Updike, A&P). For one to notice the details on someone else walk they must be watching them very closely. The importance of a job is sincere, and Sammy definitely did not enjoy what he did because he was very easily distracted from the appearance of the girls. When an employee is on the time clock at work they should have the dedication and focus on the work they were given to complete. Sammy described the town that surrounds the little store “A&P” as an inconvenience to the girls’ apparel. “five miles from a beach, with a big summer colony out on the Point, but we’re right in the middle of town… as I say, we’re right in the middle of town, and if you stand at our front doors you can see two banks and the Congregational church and the newspaper store and three real-estate offices and about twenty seven old free-loaders tearing up Central Street because the sewer broke again.” (Updike, A&P). It is almost as if the three girls, with the leader being nicknamed Queenie, were needing attention because of the wardrobe they were wearing. The protagonist, Sammy, was amazed from the apparel because of the surrounding area of the store he is employed at. "You know, it’s one thing to have a girl in a bathing suit down on the beach, where what with the glare nobody can look at each other much anyways, and another in the cool of the A & P, under the fluorescent lights, against all those stacked packages, with her feet paddling along naked over our checkerboard green-and-cream-rubber-tile floor” (Updike, A&P). The girls blew the employees minds away with their wardrobe being a bikini, and there stance being in the freezer section. The interpretation received is that all employees were highly distracted from the view of the three females entered in the corner store A & P. The girls did not seem to understand the formal “no shirt, no shoes, no service” agreement, and with that, the manager of the store had a few words to say.

        For individuals who decide not to abide by the rules, there will always be a consequence handed to them. In this story, the three girls are not wearing appropriate clothing to be grocery shopping and the manager of the store wants to let them know what the rules are. As in any professional business, costumers or guests are expected to abide by the rules so the manager approaching the girls was done in terms of respect, not to disrespect them. “He comes over and says, ‘Girls, this isn’t the beach’” (Updike, A&P). He did not intentionally try to sound rude, but it came off that way to employees and the girls. The girls did not want to seem judged and that is exactly what was happening, they felt judged. It’s a little difficult to hear a statement in that sort come from another person in public. It would have been a little different if the girls were home, or in the pool, or maybe even in a location around a beach, but that was not the circumstances. The three girls tried to tell the manager that their mom sent them in to get groceries and the reply was “’Girls, I don’t want to argue with you. After this come in here with your shoulders covered. It’s our policy.’” (Updike, A&P). The manager wanted to allow the girls to understand that he was not trying to argue with them, he wanted to make sure the understood the standards set for customers that want to be served in the store “A&P”. Sammy thought otherwise. Sammy believed that the manager did that out of spite because he saw Sammy watching the girls, so in an act of heroism, Sammy quit his job as a cashier at the store “A&P”.

       Sticking up for somebody may seem like an act of heroism when performed, but there may be a feeling of regret after the action occurred. In the short story, "A&P," the cashier, Sammy, sticks up for the three girls in their bikinis in act of quitting his job because his manager approached them with the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" policy and shortly after the action of quitting there was regret. In realization of what Sammy's parents would think about the situation of their son quitting, Sammy regret his actions. "The girls who'd blame them, are in a hurry to get out, so I say 'I quit' to Lengel quick enough for them to hear, hoping they'll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero." (Updike, A&P). Sammy feels as if he was in action of heroism to the three girls who stopped into the store "A&P". From the three girls perspective the act of heroism was false because they did not waste their time by turning around to thank him for his actions. The setting of this story was present in the year of 1961. (Sustana, Analysis of 'A&P' by John Updike). According to the article written by Katie Lambert, the first bikini ever worn was in the year of 1946. (The Bikini Makes Tts Debut in Paris). The number of years between is not a large number which makes it a little risky to wear a bikini in a place where it is prohibited. Attention seems to be wanted from the girls who approach the store in the wrong wardrobe. So, the manager in the story "A&P," Lengel, only wanted to make sure that the girls were clear on the rules of the store, which is to be in appropriate clothing in the store. The comment was meant to do no harm, but to clarify the rules with the girls. Sammy misunderstood the comment and took it to be rude which caused him to quit because he wanted to impress the three girls who took no offense. It shows that impressing others is not always the correct way to go. "His face was dark gray and his back stiff, as if he'd just had an injection of iron, and my stomach kind of fell as I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter." (Updike, A&P). This was a comment made from Sammy after the walk of shame after quitting. He wanted to impress the girls, and after the impression did not go the way he expected it to, he regret the decision he previously made. Sadly, there is not much success that can be completed without money and Sammy realizes that down the road because of this action. It was a definite lesson learned for Sammy. The story "A&P" itself is a lesson learned to the readers also because they can learn from the actions that take place in the story. It also shows that a lot of actions have an effect on one's first impression. 

        Thinking of a first impression received from another individual, what has more influence to it, one's personality or their appearance? In the short story, "A&P," appearance has a huge impact on the first impression of the three girls and the reactions that took place from the appearance. Getting a first impression of somebody is important for the interpretation you receive from that individual. As a reminder, "It takes just a quick glance, maybe three seconds, for someone to evaluate you when you meet for the first time. In this short time, the other person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed." (Making a Great First Impression). From the reading of the previous paragraphs, physical appearance has a lot to do with one's first impression because it is the first view someone receives of another individual. The appearance of the three girls caused the cashier, Sammy, to quit his job at the store "A&P" from the shock of their wardrobe. Also, the setting of the story had a strong influence on the reactions because it only took place in the year 1961, which again was only fifteen years after the first bikini was worn. (Sustana, Analysis of 'A&P' by John Updike). This story relates to a lot of real world, every day, problems that females come across because of their wardrobe. This story is a life lesson given and can have an influence on any reader that comes across this story.