"A&P" is a short story by John Updike that was first published in The New Yorker in 1961. The story follows the narrator, a young man named Sammy, who works as a cashier at a grocery store called the A&P. One day, three girls in bathing suits enter the store, causing a stir among the male customers and employees. Sammy is immediately struck by the beauty of one of the girls, whose name is Queenie.
As the girls shop, Sammy watches them and becomes increasingly frustrated with the ogling and lecherous behavior of the other men in the store. Eventually, the store manager approaches the girls and asks them to leave because they are not properly dressed. Sammy quits his job on the spot in protest, feeling that the manager's actions were unjust and that he should have stood up for the girls.
Throughout the story, Updike explores themes of conformity, rebellion, and coming of age. Sammy is a 19-year-old boy who is trying to figure out his place in the world and what he believes in. He is torn between conforming to the expectations of society and standing up for his own beliefs. The encounter with the girls in the bathing suits is a catalyst for Sammy to make a decision about who he wants to be.
Updike also explores the theme of gender roles and expectations in "A&P." The girls in the story are objectified and sexualized by the male characters, and the store manager's decision to ask them to leave is based on their appearance and the perceived impropriety of their attire. However, Sammy's decision to quit his job is a rebellion against these traditional gender roles and a statement of his own personal values.
Overall, "A&P" is a thought-provoking and memorable story that explores the complexities of growing up and finding one's place in the world. Through the character of Sammy and his encounter with the girls in the bathing suits, Updike deftly examines themes of conformity, rebellion, and the expectations placed on individuals by society.
