Age Nineteen at the “A&P” Essay Example

out in a primal manner and comments to himself about the appeal of her chest, saying that it is more than pretty (74).

Sammy refrains from speaking to the girls until they reach the checkout line. However, when "Queenie" does eventually speak up, her voice surprises Sammy with its unexpected quality. Sammy is so focused on observing the girls and evaluating their appearance that he never engages in a conversation with them.

Sammy's preference for attractive individuals over personality is emphasized in this passage. He discusses the women who come to his store, often portrayed with six children and visible leg veins, illustrating society's tendency to disregard them due to being perceived as less valuable or appealing (75).

The story showcases Sammy's immaturity through his impulsive behavior and constant stream of consciousness. He openly expresses his thoughts about everyone, exposing his self-centeredness and lack of ability to connect with others as a mature adult. Additionally, he demonstrates impulsiveness by suddenly quitting his job upon encountering three girls in the store.

The main character opposes his manager's advice to dress appropriately for the upcoming visit. Nonetheless, his impulsive nature exposes his lack of maturity as he abruptly resigns from his job. He anticipates that the girls, who are in a hurry to depart, will witness his impulsive act and perceive him as an unexpected hero. Despite perceiving his actions as heroic, they actually emphasize his impulsive behavior.

Despite his immaturity, he continues to defend his actions based on his skewed moral compass. Upon resigning from work, he ventures outside in search of the girls he refers to as "my

girls." Sammy anticipates their enthusiastic reception, firmly believing that his actions were heroic. His inflated ego and lack of maturity greatly shape his perception of how these girls will view and respond to his gesture.

Despite recognizing that his actions were impulsive, the protagonist considered them a significant gesture. He believed in the necessity of seeing it through once started, thus highlighting his immaturity and impulsiveness. (source: quote from page 77)

Sammy demonstrates his immaturity through shallowness, sexism, and impulsiveness by stereotyping and categorizing women. This is evident in his visions of women and his preconceived ideas about the definition of beauty.

At the A;P, his actions demonstrate immaturity and impulsivity. Throughout the story, he constantly criticizes others, revealing his inability to perceive them beyond the image he creates. This showcases his impulsiveness, shallowness, and sexism.