Introduction
It is no secret that there are memorable, tragic, and controversial events in every country’s history, especially in the one of the United States (US). Authors write literary works to form their own opinion about the past events and to help readers do so. Such stories often have several themes and possible interpretations. This paper aims to analyze the issues of hypocrisy and social change in A&P by John Updike.
Hypocrisy in Updike’s A&P
One of the topics discussed by the writer in the A&P is hypocrisy. At the beginning of the short story, Sammy, the protagonist, wishes the old days of the Salem witch trials to return, but then he defends young girls’ right to wear swimsuits in the store (Updike 22-24). Lengel’s controversial attitude about where it is appropriate for people to wear swimsuits and where not is another example.
Sammy’s Hypocrisy
Sammy is also a hypocrite in the way of what he thinks about the customers. Namely, his opinion of the people is based on their appearance. There are two prime examples of hypocritical thinking in A&P. The first one is his interaction with a fifty-year-old woman where he forgets about his work duties because she does not attract him (Updike 22). The second example is him serving the girl he calls “Queenie,” where he even straightens the dollar bill because the girl looks gorgeous (Updike 24). What is also hypocritical about Sammy is that he lacks self-reflection. He indirectly condemns McMahon staring at the three girls. The protagonist even feels “sorry for them” (Updike 23). At the same time, the protagonist himself does not take his eyes off them throughout the story. Updike skillfully exploits the theme of hypocrisy in A&P.
A&P and Salem Witch Trials
There is a reference to the Salem witch trials at the beginning of A&P. It can be said that this period was the peak of Christian fundamentalism and Puritan conservatism in America. Sammy thinks to himself of a fifty-year-old woman that “if she’d been born at the right time they would have burned her over in Salem” (Updike 22). It is the author’s metaphor for the change in societal paradigms that began in 1961. The 60s, which are characterized by the rise of freedom movements for civil rights for women, racial and sexual minorities, replaced the conservative post-war 50s.
The Role of A&P Setting
The A&P setting is a reflection of generational and ideological shifts in US society. A&P is described as a place in the town center where people and things never change (Updike 22). When the narration begins, Sammy misses the old times he has never seen. However, when three girls representing women’s freedom and sexual liberation enter the store, he gradually decides to follow them. It symbolizes the younger generation rejects the old ideology’s norms embodied by Lengel and chooses new ones. Stokesie is the opposite of the protagonist, a young man who still adheres to the old rules, but even he is amazed at the new generation’s symbols.
Conclusion
The paper analyzes the various levels of hypocrisy in Updike’s A&P and describes how the author reflects social change processes in the US society in his work. The writer presents and discusses diverse manifestations of hypocrisy through minor characters like Lengel and the story’s protagonist, Sammy. The reference to the Salem witch trials was explored, and the function of the literary work setting was also explained.
Work Cited
Updike, John. “A&P.” The New Yorker, 1961, p. 22.
