Fantasy Exposure is a dominant theme in the literary work A&P by John Updike. Sammy continuously fantasizes about the three girls; describing their looks and actions in precise detail. As he observes the group of girls, he creates a chimerical bond between him and them. Sammy becomes immersed in his own created fantasy. He has difficulty distinguishing it from reality. In an effort to win their affection, Sammy courageously quits his job on the spot. His fantasy inevitably becomes exposed as he exit’s the store. He suddenly realizes his step into reality as he states, “I look around for my girls, but their gone, of course” (Updike 414). Updike’s choice of words “of course” signifies the character’s feelings. His addition of “of course” to the line provides us with underlying evidence that Sammy does indeed realize he was indulged in a fantasy that would not come true in reality.
Human flaw is also a very prominent theme. Sammy makes a detrimental mistake allowing his fantasy to take hold over him. Sammy becomes so out of touch with reality that a short shopping experience leads to his downfall. As expressed in the aforementioned quote, Sammy believes the girls are his by stating “my girls.” Willing to sacrifice his job for an irresistible temptation of lust, Sammy succumbs to his imperfections. Sammy’s desire for their affection proves to be his biggest flaw.
We consistently see a trend of Inner consciousness/ emotion in this piece. As the story progresses Sammy’s internal thoughts run rampant. What begins as careful observations quickly evolves into a stream of consciousness. Sammy tactically announces his resignation “quickly enough for them to hear, hoping they’ll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero” (Updike 413). The stern lecture given by Sammy’s superior, Lengel, evoked a response based on Sammy’s moral beliefs. He felt as though he should stand up and defend their honor. Ultimately he allows his emotions to override his judgment.
Human flaw is all around us. It is what we are designed to possess as a permanent trait. It has helped create good things, and bad things. But it is a trait we have both come to love and hate. Setting aside my common pessimistic descriptions, I do but favor one historical flaw that changed the world forever. In a quest to sail to the East Indies, Christopher Columbus stumbled upon the New World by sheer accident. It was this small navigational error that sparked a global revolution. People were finally able to explore a new frontier and escape the tyranny imposed by their motherlands. Salvation and freedom for the world was granted by one man’s human flaw.
As opposed to human flaw, fantasy exposure proves to be more difficult to locate within everyday life. What is the definition of reality? Must it be something tangible; able to be perceived by the many as true, factual? Or could one’s fantasy be concluded as reality? It is no secret that many choose to live in the glory of a fantasy. Reality can be cruel and scarring. Consider it a safe haven to attacks life launches at us. Eventually we must venture outside of our protective shell and face the world. We all know people who choose to exist in their fantasy. When taken out of it, we can see an alteration of perception on life. People tend to express similar reactions to that of Sammy and Blanche from A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. When exposed to reality, their moods become dull and gloomy.
Paragraph 5 on page 410 seemed to encompass a fair amount of significance. It highlights Sammy’s descriptive perception of the girls as the world around him seems to fade. Sammy becomes encased in his fantasy and lets his individual inner emotions take over. He refers to the standard customers as “sheep” further supporting his lack of interest in reality. Sammy chooses only to focus on the three girls.
Aside from characterizing Sammy, this passage also provides insight into plot development. “From the third slot I look straight up this aisle to the meat counter, and I watched them all the way” (Updike 410). We can determine Sammy’s increased obsession with girls has reached a new level. He continuously watches the girls walk the store, paying no attention to the world around him.
Most importantly of all we can deduce the author’s purpose of the work through this brief paragraph. Sammy seems to experience the same stuff day after day in A&P. He is able to recite the aisle contents implying he has completely memorized them from his lengthy experience at the store. He also notes that “the girls were walking against the usual traffic” (Updike 410) implying that the everyday customers walk the same route. Sammy seems to be most intrigued by the girls’ ability to discern themselves from the rest of the crowd. The group particularly seems to be rebelling against traditional customs by wearing their bikinis and going against the crowd. This supports the rebellious time period of the late 1960s Updike has chosen to reflect.
A&P greatly reflects its time period. In post Vietnam America, the youth were generally rebellious. They despised authority and called for universal freedom. Many youths contested the morals of the war and the acts of governmental authority. They blamed President Johnson for inducing the war to his own benefit. We can see this rebellion of authority in the girls for wearing their bikinis in the store. More importantly however, we can see Sammy inherit this rebellion by standing up to his boss and quitting for a reason he believed to be morally just.
Updike highlights all of the aspects needed to form a post-modern work of literature. The struggle of fantasy exposure, the incorporation of human flaw, and the ability to express inner consciousness all add to fulfill the requirements of a post-modern piece. All of these themes are expressed through the character Sammy. As a millennial myself, I would have to agree with Updike’s perspective. I often find myself and my peers living in a fantasy. We tend to be dreamers, whether it’s about love, our job or our future. Yet we also acknowledge our flaws, especially our controversial flaw of dreaming. Sometimes we are blind to the realities around us.
I wouldn’t change the ending because I believe it shows the true nature of a post-modern character. A post-modern character would create a fantasy realm to better cope with the harsh realities of the world. Yet they know that their world is false and continue to live within its protective walls. Everyone has their own way of coping with the traumatic experiences they may encounter. Some utilize fantasy, others drugs and some choose to meet it head on. Each way has consequences. But one thing is certain. We live in a world that we cannot escape, no matter how hard we try to. A post-modern piece is nothing without the ruthlessness of realty.
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