Essay on A Feminist Reading of John Updikes AP - 1321 Words

A Feminist Reading of AP Gone are the days that humans could live impulsively, only taking physical pain and pleasure into account when making decisions. Or so one would like to believe. In a display of sheer innocence and ignorance, Sammy, a grocery clerk at the A P, managed to revert back to the original behavior patterns of his ape-like ancestors. One cannot possibly predict the future of Sammy, given his own illogical and irrational behavior. But one can, through a careful examination of Sammys life, determine that Sammy is just a naive, young man whose impulsive acts, partly as a consequence of his upbringing, compel him to participate in a cause not worth fighting for, instead of using his talents for more constructive†¦show more content†¦He had only one goal: do everything in his power to impress the girls, making sure they would not escape the hallowed A P without having awe-filled reverence for the grocery clerk named Sammy. However, from the beginning, Sammys idealistic dreams of renown had a sour taste to them. Sammy began his grocery clerk glory days as a victim of his own parents over watchfulness. His parents had known Lengel, the store manager, for years, and took it upon themselves to get Sammy a job. Perhaps his parents believed that doing Sammys dirty work would somehow shelter Sammy from the so-called real world, or perhaps they merely wanted the best for their son, and getting him a job was their way of giving Sammy what they felt he was due. Whatever his parents motives were, the end result was somewhat of a loss of Sammys independence. Given the circumstances surrounding the rest of the story, it is not unreasonable to assume that Sammy had felt somewhat dependent upon his parents and did not like that dependence at all. But he had never faced the right circumstance that may have potentially given him a reason, or an excuse, to break his ties with his parents and become truly independent. Lengel points out, Sammy, you dont want to do this to your Mom and Dad . . . Youll feel this for the rest of your life (Updike 411). Despite this warning, Sammy is more than willing to break the unwritten covenant he has with his parents and attemptsShow MoreRelatedA P By John Updike1441 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Updike is considered one of the greatest writers in modern American history. He is known for the idea that seemingly ordinary aspects of American life are actually quite fascinating. He wanted readers to see the beauty and magic of life, so he tried to describe everyday things using the most clear but beautiful language possible. Many of Updike’s pieces are drawn from his own life such as his marriage and his boyhood, as shown in three of his short stories: â€Å"AP†, â€Å"Ace in the Hole†, and â€Å"PigeonRead MoreEssay about Contrast of Jamaica Kincaid’s â€Å"Girl† and John Updike’s â€Å"AP†687 Words   |  3 PagesContrast of Jamaica Kincaid’s â€Å"Girl† and John Updike’s â€Å"APâ⠂¬  â€Å"AP† and â€Å"Girl† both symbolized the protagonists’ oppression by an older, more experienced generation. However, Kincaid’s â€Å"Girl† was artistic with an undercurrent of selfless love and hope while Updike’s â€Å"AP† was uninspiring with selfishness and lust. The protagonist of â€Å"Girl† discouraged her daughter’s dreams out of love. The protagonist of â€Å"A P† encouraged the antagonists’ out of a selfish desire for self-promotion. The short storyRead MoreLiterary Criticism for John Updike AP2060 Words   |  9 Pages Literary Criticisms on John Updike’s â€Å"AP† First and Last Name Class Section 11/21/13 http://www.notablebiographies.com/images/uewb_10_img0695.jpg Introduction: John Updike is considered to be one of the greatest modern American writers. He was able to use his All-American upbringing as inspiration for a lot of his writing, making it relatable to many people. Updike was born in Reading, Pennsylvania on March 18, 1932. He moved around in the area during his childhood, and the rural PennsylvaniaRead MoreA P By John Updike914 Words   |  4 Pages Living in California we see women in swimsuits quite often, maybe too often. Still we have those people that find the need to objectify women, even the ones they have seen many times. Although that is what Sammy does in John Updike’s â€Å"AP†. The way â€Å"AP† depicts the young girls is objectifying: from how the main character describes the young women, how he disrespects the older lady he was checking out, the manager kicking the girls out of the store because of what they are wearing, and how the girlsRead MoreAnalysis Of John Updike s A P1293 Words   |  6 PagesJohn U pdike is viewed by his readers as a progressive voice in his work that promotes feminist issues. He makes these issues stand out more evidently, rather than hidden, in order for the reader to realize how women are viewed in society. From reading Updike’s AP, the story sends the message to readers of genders working together to strive for equality. If readers do not carefully and actively read AP they may miss key messages about the power men hold over women, not just in society but in literatureRead MoreSelf-Motivation and Egocentrism in John Updike’s AP871 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Peden once called John Updike’s â€Å"AP† â€Å"deftly narrated nonsense...which contains nothing more significant than a checking clerks interest in three girls in bathing suits† (Peden). While Peden’s criticism may be harsher than necessary, it is hard to find fault with his analysis. Sammy’s tale offers little more than insight into an egocentric and self-motivated mind, and while Updike may disagree with that conclusion, a close reading of the text offers significant evidence to support thisRead MoreMain Themes Of Individualism In Queenies Girl Femininity854 Words   |  4 Pagesdecades ago were. This story relates to feminist perspectives. The mother in Girl expects a a lot from of her daughter, and she does not hesitate to let her know. In each of the stories the characters each accentuate the author story, each involve young women. Understanding each character is important because it shows you why they do what they do, it gives reason to each center of the story. So each character becomes the main point of the story. The girls in both AP and Girl supposed to seem innocent