A & P Analysis

A & P Analysis

The setting in A&P, which occurs in 1961, describes the antagonist as a traditional town with inhabitants who conveys conservative thoughts. This is the post war period when the market is prospering at the time. New ideas, such as dressing freely transpire s as the economy grows. A&P is located in a small town northern Boston, far away from the big cities. Thus, people living there are not ready for the changes in the way people dress openly and in mindsets. People's values in Sammy's community are conformed. As Sammy has point out: "we're right in the middle of town, and the women generally put on a shirt or shorts or something before they get out of the car into the street." Women in this town should not wear revealing costumes to public ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...At the beginning of the story, Sammy notices three girls in a bathing suit walking into the store, which really catches his eyes. Bathing suits are defined as improper dressing in public places except for the beach in his town. In his perspective, he does not consider that it is an inappropriate dressing in a local store. On the contrary, he thinks the girls are attracted to him, so he keeps on observing them. However, that's not the only reason Sammy is interested in them. He thinks these girls are different because what they were wearing undoubtedly go against the norm of the society in their time. Sammy describes that: "the girls were walking against the usual traffic" (748). For Sammy, the girls in bathing suits were actually using their own method to protest conservative rules. They violate the dressing rule in the town which strikes Sammy's mindset. He realizes the bathing suits symbolized personal freedom which is the value he aspires to have in his life. Therefore, when Lengel condemns the girls for their indecent dressing. Sammy stands up to support the girls. When Sammy quits, he removes his work uniform to symbolize he is no longer a conformer in A&P. "By leaving with the white shirt his mother ironed the night before" (750). The white shirt represents the moment Sammy has finally find his own brief that he should insist on what he

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