A & P is highly symbolic story

A & P is highly symbolic story with various thematic expressions. It takes into account the individual and adolescent longings to spring up against the common conventions, class conflict, and the rise of super put in mentality in United States during 1950s. It is also an epitome of American tender milieu during 1950s and represents its contrastive shades in colloquial and ironic language. Furthermore, it narrates the psychological and emotional transitions from childishness to adolescence in a lucid manner. The most important feature of the story is its highly symbolic constitutetings. Updike set up the story in 1950s that was an age when supermarket has replaced the church as the communitys aboriginal institutions.(Wells 132) Gilbert Porter (1972) writes in this regard that, right in the middle of town, surrounded by both banks and the Congregational church and the newspaper store and three real estate offices stands Updikes symbolic A& P (p. 1155). So it gives an atlas of th e whole American socio-economics set-up in fifties.Every institute remained a hallmark of American society and its values. The utilization of words right in the middle manifests the importance and centrality of these institutional expressions in the American life. A & P symbolizes the mass ethic of a consumer-conditioned society. (Porter, p. 1155)Another important aspect of the story is accessible structures that Updikes has constructed and displayed in order to augment the thematic expressions. Sammy, the protagonist can be viewed rebelling against this tender structure.As Larence Jat Dessner puts it, He is entranced and made enviously defensive by his notion that the under-clad younger shoppers inhabit a higher(prenominal) social station than him (16) The juxtaposition of visualization to attend a party in Queenies sustentation rooms to the factual account of parties at his own home is important exemplification of this psychological phenomenon.Sammy says, When my parents wast e somebody over they get lemonade and if its a real racy affair Schlitz in tall provide with Theyll Do It Every Time cartoons stencilled on. (Updike) Furthermore, Updike has lighted the differences between one social order and the other in a subtle way. For example, in Queenies social realm, people eat Kingfish Fancy herring snacks in Pure Sour Cream which symbolizes a privileged social class whereas Sammy eats HiHo silly that embodies a lower-class status. Lengel, another character, represents the Puritan work ethic.Strength of the story is utilization of a mixture of themes in a way that produced a unifocal impact on the reader. In addition to above mentioned conflict of social classes, it encircles the rebellious nature of its time. Sammy is caught in social compulsions at the start of the story and symbolizes a convention-ridden individual.Queenie and her company is an illustration of the rebellious temperament and any other non-conformist attitude and values. She and her part y enter and wander around the store barefooted unlike other housewives and people who only comes with shopping lists and remain totally engrossed in them. Updike again uses a subtle image to symbolize their non-conformist behaviour.They stroll up an aisle against the normal street of traffic. This metaphorically explains their behaviour that is against the social conventions of the time. This makes realize Sammy of his own conditionality. This generates a desire in him to be different from the society. So he rebels against the society. Lengel is juxtaposed with Sammy as he sticks to conventionalities and embodies the strict professional ethics. Mr. recognize him as the component part of the Establishment (1157). These images illustrate the second theme in a perfect way.