Introduction
Postmodernism, a literary genre that first appeared in the middle of the 20th century, is distinguished by its rejection of grand narratives and conventional forms of representation. Postmodernist literature highlights the fragmentation of the narrative, the blending of high and low culture, and the undermining of traditional conventions. The short story “A&P” by John Updike, which questions conventional narratives, subverts cultural expectations and criticizes consumerism, is a prime example of postmodernist literature.
Historical Context and Postmodernism
Considering the historical and cultural setting in which “A&P” was created is critical to comprehend its background as a postmodernist work. In the 1960s, during a profound social, political, and cultural change in America, Updike penned “A&P” (Bezdoode and Bezdoode 76). Due to the postwar economic boom and the establishment of chain stores and shopping malls, consumer culture had grown. Postmodernist literature developed in this setting to challenge the existing quo and criticize the prevailing cultural ideals.
A well-known American author of the 20th century, John Updike, is renowned for his accurate depictions of the American middle class (Bezdoode and Bezdoode 76). He produced several books of fiction and short tales that probed the intricacies of American life, frequently emphasizing the banal and commonplace (Bezdoode and Bezdoode 77). In “A&P,” Updike tells the tale of a young grocery store employee who defies his neighborhood’s strict social conventions. Through the protagonist’s behavior, Updike criticizes the 1960s American consumerist culture and raises issues about the individual’s place in a civilization that prioritizes conformity.
Setting and Symbolism
The scene takes place in a small-town grocery store, a commonplace and nondescript setting. This contrasts with the typical modernist scene, which frequently depicts a prominent or exceptional location. However, postmodernist authors often emphasize the meaninglessness of daily existence by focusing on the banal or the marginal. Updike’s portrayal of the physical layout of the business thus explores his fascination with the mundane.
He describes the store layout, the products, and how the fluorescent lighting makes everything appear washed out in great detail. Sammy, the narrator, observes “Kingfish Fancy Herring Snacks in Pure Sour Cream: 49¢” and the “cat-and-dog-food-breakfast-cereal-macaroni-rice-raisins-seasonings-spreads-spaghetti-soft drinks-rackers-and-cookies aisle” (Updike). He effectively conveys the dullness of daily existence through in-depth descriptions of the layout and products of the store.
Updike’s picture of the customers is another illustration of his attention to the ordinary: Sammy says that they are “house slaves” and “sheep” who are pushing their cars around the store (Updike). By focusing on the clients’ commonplace characteristics and behavior, Updike stresses the conformity and homogeneity of suburban life.
Consumerism and Objectification in Suburban America
In “A&P,” Updike criticizes materialism by highlighting the homogeneity and objectification it fosters. The story is set in a grocery shop, a classic illustration of a consumerist setting (Bezdoode and Bezdoode 79). Updike illustrates the superficiality of this environment and how it affects people throughout the narrative. The story’s characters are also shown as perpetual consumers of items and products, products of their consumerist society.
For instance, Sammy, the narrator, emphasizes their consumerist lifestyle by describing how they look when the females in swimwear enter the store. He claims, “The one that caught my eye first was the one in the plaid green two-piece. She was a chunky kid, with a good tan and a sweet broad soft-looking can with those two crescents of white just under it, where the sun never seems to hit, at the top of the backs of her legs” (Updike).
The girls’ ambition to meet conventional beauty standards has resulted in them being objectified and having their value reduced to their appearance. Lengel, the manager, further represents consumerism’s tyrannical character. He corrects the females for their clothes and upholds the store’s dress code. He tells them, “We want you dressed decently when you come in here” (Updike). Lengel’s function symbolizes the urge to adhere to consumerist principles as the enforcer of social norms.
Updike does not propose a counterargument or alternative to consumerism, giving this critique of consumerism its postmodernist element. He only presents the situation and lets the reader make their judgments. This absence of a clear conclusion or moral lesson is typical of postmodernism, which emphasizes ambiguity and complexity more than tidy, understandable narratives.
Subverting the Hero’s Journey
The idea of a hero’s journey is the way in which “A&P” plays with conventional narratives. In traditional stories, the hero sets out on a journey, encounters difficulties, and ultimately overcomes adversity. However, Sammy’s adventure in “A&P” is curtailed when he decides to leave his position. The following citation demonstrates this: “I look around for my girls, but they’re gone, of course” (Updike).
Instead of experiencing a happy ending, he is uncertain about the future: “…my stomach kind of fell as I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter” (Updike). This subverts the conventional narrative structure by depriving the reader of a clear resolution and instead leaving them with an unclear conclusion (Al-Jamani 70). The challenge to social conventions and the disruption of the conventional narrative structure combine to make “A&P” a postmodernist work.
Conclusion
In conclusion, John Updike’s “A&P” is a postmodernist work that questions established narratives, criticizes consumerism, and explores the mundane in American life. Updike crafts a work that questions the dominant cultural norms of 1960s America by defying conventional structures and providing a fractured narrative. In the end, “A&P” effectively illustrates postmodernist literature and shows how writing may examine and question the status quo.
Works Cited
Al-Jamani, Muayad Enwiya Jajo. “The Role of Binary Settings in John Updike’s Short Stories: A Structuralist Approach.” Journal of the College of Education for Women, vol. 32, no. 2, 2021, pp. 60–72.
Bezdoode, Zakarya, and Eshaq Bezdoode. “Heroism in the Age of Consumerism: The Emergence of a Moral Don Quixote in John Updike’s ‘A&P’.” Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 23, no. 3, 2020, pp. 75–85.
Updike, John. A&P. Tiger Town, 1961. Tiger Town, Web.