The theme of love in “A & P”

First Analytical Essay on Short Fiction

Literature has enabled many present issues in either the social, political or economic aspects that happen in many societies. It has, thus, helped organizations and individual realize their goals and objectives in life. Literal elements such as setting, imagery, theme and symbol among others have, therefore, helped many present their work and related to the audience of the work with ease. It enables the communication and intended goals to be realized as desired by the producer of the literal work that can either fall in the category of poems, novels, drama and short stories among others. The literal work can also be presented as either fictional or non-fictional. However, among the many attributes related to literal work, this paper shows how the element of the theme is used in the short story by John Updike, “A&P” to help present the message to the targeted audience of the great literal piece.

Many literal works combine several literal elements and styles that help deliver the message to the audience with ease, and John Updike’s work is no exception. There are several themes presented in the Updike’s piece that relate to most of the audience of the work that enables them to relate to their daily lives, meeting the fundamental objectives of any literal works. Conflict is the first theme presented by Updike in the “A & P” work as noted in several incidences. The theme entails conflicts realized in most societies between teenagers or adolescents and adults or parents in their immediate environment. For example, Lengel the manager of the grocery conflicts with Sammy who is a teenage clerk show opposing views and opinions about the dressing of the girls that went shopping at the store had that was appropriate for the beach, but Sammy allowed them to shop and appraised them. It brings and shows the conflict between the two who are of different age groups and, therefore, the conflict that most of the people and in particular the audience of the piece can relate to in life. Where many parents or adults have conflicted with their children and teenagers around them as a result of the dress code and style that might contrast each party’s expectation bringing conflict. The conflict that ensued in the piece by Updike, consequently, determined other actions such as Sammy resigning as result of the conflict. The audience of the work and many in society, hence, can relate to the work as many have taken action similar to the one taken by the characters in the piece that result in conflict. And, resultant decisions made when anger settles in the conflict that many people have in life that resulted in Sammy resigning out of anger and the conflict that arose from their different views and interpretation of the incidences in the stores. 

The theme of love is also presented in the piece. The moment the girls (clients) stepped in the store, Sammy spontaneously fell in love with them and allowed them to shop while applauding them sexually. Sammy went ahead to give the gorgeous girl a name “Queenie” that showed how he felt in love with the girls even though his desire did not come true. Even after Sammy had resigned and quit the store, he tried to follow the girls only sadly to find that they had already left the scene. Also, Sammy shouted when he told Lengel the store manager that he was going to quit his job so that the girls could hear, and probably turn around and catch his attention but sadly that did not happen and the girls did not turn around. Many people and the audience in particular of the piece can relate a similar incidence in their life that they have fallen in love at first sight or they have seen somebody close to them that can relate to the scenario in the story by Updike. Many have experienced similar incidences in life where they see somebody that is attractive to them and try their luck by using all the means possible at their disposal at the time or the other. But result in vain and, hence, their potential people that they can love to disappear in their lives and sights as noted in the piece by Updike (1961).

Thirdly, the theme of the power of desire is also presented in work by Updike. The girls attracted the attention of most men in the store the moment they stepped in the store. However, the girls ignore the comments and appreciation shown by the men in the store that tried to invite attention and interest. And, hence, their sexuality gives them power over their opposite sex (men) that determines other unfolding incidences in the piece such as the actions that Sammy took to try and capture their attention but in vain. The girls, for this reason, try to maintain their power of sexuality in the piece but Lengel the store manager also tries to lower their power in the piece by trying to discredit them and reduce their power. The theme of the power of desire, thus, is critical in work by Updike as it allows another theme such as conflict to be presented in the piece. Many of the audience, hence, can relate to the theme as many have tried in many incidences to capture power or determine the courses of many things in life but have either failed or succeeded. It, therefore, helps the audience relate to the work and compare to their lives.

Lastly, the theme of the mystery of other minds is also presented in work. Many people in life have tried to figure out what other people close to them might be thinking about different incidences and situations in life that might be of interest to them. Sammy is surprised when what he had imagined in his mind and created a picture of the girls proves to be wrong and faulty when the girls speak and express themselves. Sammy is also confused and wonders what the girls might be thinking when they entered the store that kept him guessing and prompting him to take and make certain decisions to try to capture the attention of the girls but in vain. Sammy perception and thinking proves only to be illusion about the girls and the people that they worked with at the store. It shows how it is difficult to read other people minds as there are high chances of wrongly interpreting and reading other people's actions. Many of the audience can relate to similar incidences in life, accordingly, makes the piece a great literal work. 

In conclusion, the element of the theme has greatly helped deliver the message that the writer of the piece had to the audience. It has also used other element such as settings and character among others that have made the element of the theme presented in the piece with ease. The theme constitutes an important part of literal work that helps the audience and viewers of such literal work by Updike to relate to their lives and appreciate the daily encounters that they experience in life in the course of engaging in issues either in the social, economic or political contexts of life. Combining different literal elements is recommended as well as incorporating various styles that more often has resulted in great literal work that has stood the taste of time as noted in work by Updike.

Reference

Updike, J. (1961). “A & P.”