What Cultural References are Presented through the Characters and Objects in A&P by John Updike - Essay Example

As they go about their tasks, Sammy honors the side effects, of the other clients, to this band of females. He uses the phrase Sheep to explain the shop regulars, as they seem to adhere to along with one and other in their activities. The ladies, however, appear to be exclusive in all factors of their beings: strolling, down the islands, against the grain: going without shoes and in move matches, amongst the effectively dressed clients. They are different and this is what grabs and maintains Sammy's interest.

Sammy honors their activities, up until the time of their check out from the store, at which point, they are faced by the shop administrator and chastised for their undesirable overall look. He considers their outfit to be indecent. Sammy figures out that managing the shop was needless and unnecessarily awkward for the ladies, therefore, he chooses to keep working at his place as checker. Sammy describes his ideal girl as the Marilyn Monroe type i.e. a stereo type for attractive girls during the 1950’s and the author’s imagery is clearly illustrated for his use of Marilyn Monroe as a pop-culture reference.

(Peden, 1964) In the short story “A & P,” Updike examines the idea that plan is nothing more than required wish. As Sammy honors, The need for everybody is juvenile delinquency (Olster & Olster, 2006) that creates the guidelines for needs to be followed and those who take a position against power are ignored as radicals. (Porter, 1972) There are two main parts of “A & P:” one in which Updike promotes Sammy’s evaluation of the whole societal arrangement in common and the other in which he undercuts it.

For the first two areas of the tale, it seems as though the writer sees eye to eye with Sammy’s critique about the environment around him (Peden, 1964). The establishing scenario of the grocery store is re-imagined as a scary den of satisfaction, booming by overbearing professionals and zombie-like clients. The information regarding the severe lighting and shrill appears to be of comments and devices recommend that Sammy’s loathing for his atmosphere is guaranteed. He uses this as a pop-culture reference as a criticism against the hippie and heavy metal culture of the 1960’s which was overtaking the American teenage populace particularly since the publication of The Catcher in The Rye.

Even if overstated and relayed in first-person, these features are made in such details that the audience reading the story can identify and perhaps acknowledge with Sammy's despondence for which the credit goes to the author. (Peden, 1964) Updike aggressively recreates the wide impact of consumer culture in 20th-century United States. His figures constantly consult famous brands and materialism is a continuous concern throughout the story reminiscent of the clash of ideologies that was visible during the peak of cold war.

The author through Sammy’s character has made the audience aware of the fact even though it is used for competitors and for high-class, rather than for success. However, Updike is careful about his analysis of commercial culture; Sammy tries to decline it in support of a more authentic way of lifestyle, but Updike concerns whether his revolt is truly realistic. Since this short story was written in Cold War era, there was much worldwide analysis placed on what was seen as US’s post-war economic growth, which was too much even for the US consumers to handle. . Separating contains some glimpses into the effects of the search of high-class.

The buying position of the Maples' - the golf trial - becomes a metaphor for their damaged family. And the gas disaster that Judith refers to during her welcome returning evening meal also represents the inner family disaster in the Walnut