The Modernism movement has given the world quite a number of authors whose works have changed the landscape of literature forever. John Updike’s creations fall under the category of Modernism quite accurately, “A&P” being one of the most colorful examples of that. Although A&P“ incorporates a variety of ideas tightly packed into a comparatively small work, the theme of contrasting the elusive nature of ideas and the reality of consequences remains prevalent throughout the novel.
The story takes place in an A&P grocery, where Sammy works. As three girls in swimsuits enter the grocery, Sammy starts ogling at them; however, as the manager leaves an unpleasant remark about the girls and forces them to leave, Sammy takes the side of the girls. As the manger dismisses Sammy, the latter leaves, realizing how difficult his life is going to be from now on after losing the job.
The characters portrayed in the story are rather simple yet sympathetic, Updike manages to create an immediate impression on the readers by painting his characters with thick brushstrokes and giving them basic yet memorable character traits. In “A&P,” Sammy is portrayed as flawed, yet naïve and idealistic which, later on, affects him tremendously: “I say ‘I quit’ to Lengel quick enough for them to hear, hoping they’ll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero” (Updike 3). In turn, the manager is represented as a rude and uncompromising person, to whom the reader feels immediate aversion: “Policy is what the kingpins want” (Updike 3). As a result, each character has a unique personality, which the audience can easily identify.
Furthermore, the conflict between the manager and Sammy, who recognizes the dignity of the visitors despite his initial behavior, thus redeeming himself, is shown. The minor conflict that could have happened between Sammy and the girls propels the story, allowing for a starker contrast between Sammy’s naiveté and the shopkeeper’s ugly nature.
Despite the presence of a broad range of ideas and themes in Updike’s “A&P,” the contrast between the nebulous nature of dreams and the harsh reality of the consequences of people’s actions remains the dominant one. The specified theme aligns with the premises of the literary movement of Modernism, to which the book belongs given the time of its origin. By incorporating literary devices such as symbolism and allegory, Updike emphasizes the distance between ideas and the crushing reality perfectly, reinforcing the message of the story.
Reference
Updike, John. A&P. Littleton Public Schools, 1962. Web.