Throughout time, the existing social and cultural order has allocated women the roles of wives and muses, often primarily defined by their looks. It is fair, however, to specify that in the past these attitudes were expressed in a more prolific manner than today. Contextualized by the male gaze of the narrative hero of the short story, the girls in A&P, the story written by John Updike, are being observed from their very first appearance. It is evident that females of that era were judged by and valued mainly for their physical appearance.
Firstly, they are being objectified and intently studied by everyone present in the store, which they enter at the beginning of the story. The narrative paints it in a way that suggests the girls being aware of the almost sexual power they possess; this perspective does not hold up to criticism. The girls are denied the agenda in this case, having little to no control over whether they would like to be perceived this way.
Secondly, the protagonist’s desire affects his actions and attempts to help the girls throughout the story. It is important to specify that he is not motivated by this attraction alone, yet since his perceptions of the girls are affected by it immediately, one cannot be separated from another. In his mind, Sammy refers to the most attractive girl, Queenie, as “this queen” (Updike 2). His intent of helping the girls and the value he is attaching to them in his mind stems from their attractiveness.
Thirdly, there is a sense of othering in the ways the protagonist perceives and describes the girls. To him, they are somewhat separate creatures that he wishes to understand but struggles with. Instead, he is too preoccupied observing the straps “loose of her shoulders” (Updike 1). The sense of othering is a known phenomenon in any study of fetishization, which prioritizes physical attraction over anything else there is in the person. As a result, the narration leaves the protagonist informed of his mistakes when he realizes he did not understand the girls at all.
Work Cited
Updike, John.A&P. Readings, 1962. pp. 1-5. Web.