Teenage years can be a complex and confusing stage of life that at times is further intensified by love and lust. In “A & P,” John Updike portrays the actions and reactions of a teenager that becomes a victim of such feelings. For the task, Updike writes the short story as a subjective narration: It is through this point of view that the author can best present the favoritism, unique view, and partial growth the narrator presents throughout the story.
First of all, it is important to establish that a subjective narration is a story told by a character that has already lived it. This is the only narration to always be characterized by large degree of subjectivity and unreliability. The character holds controversial values, forcing the reader to challenge and test his own perspectives. In this specific story, the juvenile n
Updike also uses this subjective narrative to freely reveal Sammy’s unique views and values as a lusty teenager. Sammy seems to have several predetermined ideas. Even referring to one of the girls, Sammy states: “You know, the kind of girl other girls think is very “striking”… but never quite makes it… which is why they like her.” However, Sammy never offers any prove for his statement. The story is filled with such examples. As he observes the girls’ charm as they walked through the isles he exclaims: “I bet you could set off dynamite in an A& P and people would by and large reaching and checking oatmeal off their list… But there was no doubt, this jiggled them.” Even though this is not a literal statement, Sammy believes in it to some level. Although irrational, Updike reveals the truth about a teenagers mind, Sammy’s.
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