A&P College Essay Example
A&P College Essay Example

A&P College Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (904 words)
  • Published: April 5, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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A person usually undergoes rites of passage to become a member of a particular group. After completing these rituals, they are prepared to be initiated into the group. In the two stories we talked about in class, I witnessed two firsthand instances of rite of passage and initiation encountered by the protagonist of each story.

In the stories "A&P" and "Doe Season," both Sammy and Andy experience rites of passage that lead them to make important decisions about their lives.
In "A&P," Sammy is working when three non-conforming females enter the store and capture his attention. When he witnesses his manager mistreating the girls, Sammy decides to quit his job in order to assert his independence and join them.
Similarly, in "Doe Season," Andy, the daughter of a hunter, undergoes a rite of passage whe

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n she is tasked with killing a doe. Successfully completing this task would initiate her into the group of hunters and bring her closer to her father. These rites of passage often mark the beginning of new lifestyles and responsibilities.
As Sammy experiences his own rite of passage at work, three girls enter the store wearing bathing suits despite the beach being far away. Their act of non-conformity catches Sammy's attention. He fears ending up like his co-worker Stokesie, who has a wife and two children but is still stuck working at the A;P grocery store. This realization motivates Sammy to make a change in his life.

Sammy viewed the girls not only as rebels against the rules but also as embodiments of the excitement he yearned for in his mundane town. Their presence injected vitality into his monotonous existence and provided him with an

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opportunity to escape the inevitable fate of growing old and settling for a long-term career at "A&P." To become a part of their thrilling lifestyle, Sammy understood that he had to earn his place. Prior to embarking on this journey, he identified the leaders of the group, whom he affectionately referred to as "Queenie." Queenie, who immediately caught his attention upon entering the store, seemed like an obvious choice for him to impress. Accompanying her were two other non-conformist girls nicknamed "Plaid" and "Big Tall Goony Goony," who stood slightly in Queenie's shadow but nonetheless captured Sammy's interest.

Inside the store, the store manager confronts the girls regarding their attire, claiming it violates dress code regulations. This sparks a verbal argument between Lengel (the store manager) and Queenie, who serves as leader of the group. Sammy witnesses this confrontation and reflects on his own desire to engage in a similar altercation with Lengel. Consequently, he becomes even more fascinated by Queenie's way of life. When Lengel ultimately demands that they leave without making their purchase, Sammy realizes that fully embracing Queenie's rebellious attitude requires him to argue with Lengel as well.

In the story “A,” Sammy quits his job after arguing with Lengel in front of a group of girls, but when he goes outside, the girls have already left. This act of quitting represents Sammy's rite of passage and grants him the independence he desires, even though the girls he hoped to impress are no longer there.

In "Doe Season," Andy joins her father on a hunting trip for the first time. Her father brings her along because he has noticed her ability to attract animals without

causing harm. During the trip, Andy strays from the group and spots a buck, but when she returns, it has vanished. This adds another setback to Andy's initiation process as the group accuses her of lying.

The following day, they come across a doe, and the group becomes excited. Andy is given a chance to redeem herself by killing the doe. Although she believes she made a fatal shot, they discover that the doe has fled when they inspect it. Once again, Andy is ostracized by the group for failing to successfully kill the only doe they encountered throughout their trip.

On another day later on during their camping trip near their campsite area where everyone was staying overnight at what appeared lifeless body deer that wasn't too far away from them became visible indicating that it had been killed by Andy’s fatal wound inflicted upon it earlier in their hunting adventure together.The others joyfully express their admiration for Andy's accomplishment and officially welcome her into their group as one of them thus bringing her closer to embracing more tomboyish characteristics much like how she felt growing up while also feeling closer connected towards building stronger bonds within relationship between herself not just with other members present but also including that special bond shared specifically between father-daughter dynamic which both now become mutually more fulfilled through this shared experienceThe necessity of undergoing a rite of passage is apparent for individuals seeking acceptance into a group.

The act of quitting one's job in "A&P" signifies the readiness to embrace a new non-conformist lifestyle, as seen in Sammy's decision. By leaving his job, Sammy frees himself from the constraints it

imposed and demonstrates his ability to embrace non-conformity. Similarly, in "Doe Season," Andy's act of killing the doe showcases her capability to hunt alongside men and skillfully take down animals. Both characters undergo a rite of passage by completing these tasks, symbolizing their initiation into new lifestyles.

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