Use of Narrative Voice in Updikes A&P - Essay Example

Use of Narrative Voice in Updike’s “A&P” In the short story of John Updike d A & P, in a small town within New England, life is reported to be teeming with lots of nothings. Sammy, the man in the story who tells all is seen to be uninterested in the job he is given as a check out boy within the local A&P. However, he is interested in the individuals who shop at the place. Sammy uses the boredom at the work place as a vehicle of imagination to expose the true selves of the customers. This character proves himself as critical, observant and a bored young man through the first person narration. Narrative voice used in the selection is a clear demonstration of the qualities passed by the main character who is the narrator (Gilbert 1158). Through the tone and diction contained within this narrative voice, it is obvious in this story that Sammy is in his teens and his having a mature observation of women. It is significant to know that the A&P story is written in the first person and the narrator is an objective; this simply shows that the narrator relies on personal observation and does not know what actually goes on in the mind of the others. Sammy is also seen as a participant narrator since he is also in the story that he is telling. Since Sammy is restrained in this particular manner, he can easily be believed, and the readers can also relate with him without any hindrance (Gilbert 1158). Moreover, since he is present in person, he is a dependable source of information for the readers. The simple manner in which Sammy is portrayed in the story coupled with his plain existence proposes the idea that every man has some complexity that lies in the mind. Use of characterization in OConnors "Good Man is Hard to Find" The story was published in 1953, following the permanent move of Flannery OConnor to Andalusia who the diary firm of her mother. The story makes an illustration of the various themes and techniques that characterized the distinctive OConnor story. There is characterization in this story. The tools of characterization include actions, clothing, family life, speech and dialogue as well as thoughts and opinions (Flannery 4). In the context of actions, it is the way sense is made for the minor characters and they say a lot in the story. The kids in the story say nasty things to the strangers and grandmother and consequently through a fantastic tantrum to ensure that their Bailey takes them to the particular plantation house. Baileys appears to loose his temper and fond of clenching the jaw and also saying shut up. However, the wife of Bailey says and does nothing apart from attending to the baby. Consequently, there exist the Misfits accomplices who are seen to enjoy killing the families that are in the woods. The basic mode of learning concerning the characters is by observing their actions since there isnt much depth to the individuals depicted. Grandmother and the Misfit are complicated since they talk so much and are accorded more depth. The challenge here is finding out what their actions really mean. Some of the actions of the grandmother that are portrayed early in the story appear to make her look like a manipulator (Flannery 12). Once in the story, she is seen to be against the Mist, but it remains unclear what her motives. Indeed, it can be said whether she is a scheming manipulator or poor old woman who is on the verge of breaking down (Flannery 13). Misfit does bad things as is seen from what he tells us and what he does in the story, but what is not known is the reason for the behavior. The reader is expected to find the motive from what he thinks and says. In the perspective of clothing, the root of the grandmother from old Southern gentleman culture is seen in the chosen clothing (Jan and Karl-Heinz 12). Moreover, her clothing choices also depict her superficial nature. Specific attention can be accorded the outfit with lace trimmed collars, cotton gloves, and cuffs as well as the purple spray of the cloth violets at the neckline (Fitzgerald 198). This is described over the whole course of paragraph twelve. Indeed, the grandmother care so much about looking like a real lady. The clothing of the grandmother provides a clear contrast to that of Misfit and the other accomplices who wears haphazard and mismatched clothes. Their clothing is a reflection of the circumstances since they are trying to hide so that the police do not get them by getting rid of the old clothing (George 71). The fact that Misfit is not having a shirt adds a sense of vulnerability or directness to his character. He does not care about the appearance. Finally, Bailey is seen with a ridiculous parrot shirt. This makes him look ridiculous in such a way that a badly dressed middle class dad who is on vacation would look like. In the context of family life, the dysfunction within the family is reveled. The sense of the characters is revealed through the way they relate with each other. This is seen on the disrespect and bad behavior by the kids towards the elders, fixation of the mother on the baby, as well as unsuccessful attempt by Bailey to be in charge as a dad. Nevertheless, the family still manages to stay together and even manages going for a family vocation. As compared to the situation of Misfit who probably killed the father despite the fact that he refused to admit. This is a real family dysfunction. In the perspective of speech and dialogue, it can be seen that OConnor is fond of according the characters speech that is a reflection of their social class, religion, or age. The kids are constantly saying exaggerated things that really sound childish as stated by Flannery (2003) "Weve had an ACCIDENT" in all caps, or June Stars "wouldnt do that for a million bucks" (Flannery 21). Furthermore, Misfit is seen to have down home Southern accent as stated by Flannery (2003) filled with, "oncet" and "twict," "would of" instead of "would have," "Yesm," and "nome" (27). This is a contrast as compared to the standard of speech of the grandmother. Finally, thoughts and opinions are relevant in the context of two characters, The Misfit and grandmother. Grandmother appears nostalgic about the old days given him emphasis on the manners as well as the equation of good blood with the goodness (Flannery 31). Nonetheless, the Misfit character appears to get most of its meat and is a mystery from what he says regarding religion and also understanding of evil and god. Works Cited George Kilcourse. Flannery OConnors religious imagination: a world with everything off balance. Paulist Press, 2001. Print. Gilbert Porter. "John Updikes A & P: The Establishment and an Emersonian Cashier". The English Journal, 61.8 (2002): 1155–1158. Fitzgerald, Sally. Flannery OConnor: The Habit of Being. Vintage, 2006. Print. Flannery, OConnor, and Frederick, Asals, ed. A good man is hard to find. Rutgers University Press, 2003. Print. Jan, N. G., and Karl-Heinz, Westarp, ed. Flannery OConnors radical reality. Univ of South Carolina Press, 2006. Print. Read More