The development of a person from immaturity to maturity is a common theme in coming-of-age stories. John Update's "A&P" follows 19-year-old Sammy as he progresses through his youthful immaturity. In this essay, the use of analogies, point of view, and plot in describing Sammy's coming-of-age story will be explored. The analogies in the story are a primary means of illustrating Sammy's immaturity. For instance, Sammy refers to a group of construction workers as "freeloaders," insinuating that they are not working productively (Update 50). Additionally, Sammy often compares people to animals, particularly sheep, such as when he says, "The sheep pushing their carts down the" (Update 149). Sammy's view of himself as more intellectual than those he encounters is emphasized through these animalistic comparisons. Despite this self-image, Sammy is shown to develop
...through the point of view; readers see him come of age and mature throughout the story.John Update's point of view effectively offers a glimpse into Sammy's perspective, making it possible to observe his growth throughout the story. The use of analogies is also significant, as evidenced by Sammy's remark that "The whole store was Like a pinball machine and I didn't know which tunnel they'd come out" (150). Update vividly describes the anticipation felt by Sammy and Stokes as they waited to see where the girls would appear. The reader is given insight into Sammy's emotional state, such as when Update notes, "...But remembering how he made that pretty girl blush makes me so scrunch" (52). This creates a window into Sammy's mind and facilitates an understanding of his transformation. Furthermore, the point of view highlights how important girls are to young men lik
Sammy, and the appearance of the three girls shapes the trajectory of the plot. After seeing them, Sammy becomes so engrossed that he forgets his duties, causing a customer to become irate: "l stood there with my hand on a box of Hi crackers trying to remember if I rang it up or not.I ring It up again and the customer starts giving me" (148). Queen, in particular, captures Sammy's attention, causing him to describe her every move and wonder about her thoughts.According to John Update, it is difficult to discern how girls think, as he questions whether there is truly a functioning mind or simply a buzzing title within their heads. Nonetheless, the protagonist clearly perceives their impact on him, indicating his lack of experience. In fact, the presence of the girls in the plot serves as a crucial factor in Sammy's decision to quit and mature. Thus, Update's story of coming of age heavily relies on the use of analogies, perspective, and the inclusion of key characters such as the girls to convey its message. Without these elements, it would not be considered a true coming of age narrative. (149, 153)
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