Elizabeth Herber
Mrs. Cooper
A.P. Literature
07 September 2005
An Unconventional Identity
Symbolism is a relatively straight forward concept on its surface. It is a visible object or action that suggests some further meaning in addition to itself. Most literary works use symbols to expand on the meaning of the piece of work. "A&P" by John Updike, is a rich story presenting the main idea of man's struggle to attain individuality within society. Through his work, Updike uses the three girl's sense of non-conformity as symbolism to enhance Updike's theme of finding individuality and to identify the change in Sammy.
"A&P" starts off with three girls walking into a grocery store "in nothing but [their] bathing suits" (14). The A&P is "five miles from a beach" (16), in the middle of town. They are having fun and enjoying themselves although the way they are dressed is not appropriate for where they are, but it does not bother them at all. Soon after their entrance,......
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Approximate Word Count: 490
Approximate Pages: 2 (260 words per double-spaced page) |