Teenagers often find themselves asking questions and trying to do what is asked of them. Teenagers feel like they are part of a larger society, and that their norms are orthodox. John Updike managed to create a more mature story in which Sammy is forced into adulthood quickly by a call. We can see Sammy’s deep depravity through his thoughts, intense observations and his actions.

Sammy is your typical average boy working at your local A&P. The story opens with Sammy being incredibly self-opinionated and sarcastic. This gives us a glimpse into the deeper meanings of the story. Sammy is content to describe everything, but we are able to see a sadness in the way that he views the world and how he feels about it. Sammy’s story is mainly about three women who visit his shop. Sammy’s intense fascination with these three random women will be evident in the shot. Sammy thinks he’s just being a typical young boy. Sammy goes beyond the superficial details to gather insights into the people he sees. Sammy studies one woman more attentively than the others, and he becomes fascinated by her. He says, however, that “She was the Queen” and that her natural leadership and ability to catch attention caught everyone’s interest in a split second. The support swimsuit bra straps are what attracted his attention the most. Sammy found this extremely sensual and he was drawn to it. He uses them as clues to build a picture for his inner life. When he hears every woman speak, his imagination is ignited about the women. Sammy’s specific observations and descriptions show his prejudices as well as blind spots. Sammy’s lustful and unabashedly lustful gaze at the women shows an immatureness. He also views A&P customers as “sheep”, and “house slaves.” Sammy is equally dismissive towards Stokesie, his coworker and unimaginative drone associate. It is ironic that Sammy believes he is superior to everyone else in the store, which is why he acts as though he does. He felt the only way to show that he is different than them was to stand out from them, and he quit his job. As he watches the women, we begin to see the subtle hints he gives us. We start to understand what he is trying to tell us. Sammy often slips into the daily dream of attending her families parties. It is his way of shaming his family. Sammy hates that his family has not been able to pass him wealth over the years.

Although his family tries hard to give him a normal life, but he is still not satisfied with the A&P job, Sammy believes it isn’t enough and that he should have a happy, carefree existence. This is Sammy’s resolution. Lengel attempts to stop him from quitting. Sammy is driven to make the group happy. Sammy thinks it would have been “fatal” to not quit the gesture over Lengel’s treatment towards the women. Sammy has come to regard the gesture as the best way to be praised by the ladies. Sammy wants to quit to become Queenie, a world where he can be an expert in beauty, youth and sophistication. Sammy is convinced that if Sammy doesn’t quit, A&P will continue to teach him how to adapt, validate authority, and live in a world of shallow materialism. Sammy is aware that he is in a very lose-lose situation. He’ll either lose his identity and social norms or quit his job, not knowing when he will return.

Sammy makes his dramatic gesture. He now realizes that the consequences are unacceptable. Sammy says that he quit because women want him. Sammy then walks out, looking for women. The reader finds it unfavorable. Sammy is the only one left without praise or adoration. Sammy feels guilty for his Brobdingnagian need to quit his job, especially for women who didn’t give him enough time. Sammy’s attraction to Queenie is a natural desire of a young woman. He eventually feels the need to flee A&P and his own life. Sammy longs for more than his expertise in Queenies’ carefree, classless world. Sammy wants to make it clear that he is ready to make a significant life change. Sammy is content with his life as it is. His stance allows him to demonstrate that he has the ability to create a new, better life. Sammy will mechanically regret the call. Sammy responds in his mind to Lengel’s question, “It’s truth, I don’t.” This is where he begins to regret his call. He explains that once you’ve made a decision it can be hard to change it. Here Sammy is proud. Sammy knows what he is doing, but he can’t make him change his mind.

The story’s last sentence shows Sammy looking through the shop window, noting that Lengel was there, “…checking the sheep through. Sammy realises that those who succeed in this world are the only ones who follow the principles. Sammy looks through the window to confirm that Lengel is not jittery. Sammy sees the harshness in Lengels eyes and what he is facing in the future. The end will reveal Sammy’s real depravity. Sammy was not able change his life in the way he wanted, but he did learn some things about himself. Sammy was able see the true nature of Sammy and to understand how he would react to certain aspects of his life.

The U.S.A. can see the continuous chain of depravity within our lives through Updike’s tale. Sammy felt his life was boring. However, when he left his job, he experienced a new sense depravity. Sammy received the following results. He was asked to thank his family for allowing him to quit the job he had been assigned and to continue looking for work within the village. Sammy’s rash decision to quit his job in order to love and be loved by women he didn’t know was a sign of his desperate need to be noticed. Humans were designed to be in relationships with others. If they become too busy, they will do anything to attract attention. Sammy was used by author to connect with his readers in an exceedingly friendly approach where we tend not to forget the good things in our lives.