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Gilman 1 Charlotte Perkins Gilman Professor Nathaniel Hawthorne ENC July 2028 Importance of Environment When individuals read a story, they should be aware of the location where the story takes place, as well as the context in which it was written. Both the temporal and physical settings of a story can impact a character’s values, beliefs, and actions. It is vital to understand the significance of the setting; otherwise, the reader may entirely miss the meaning of a written work. In John Updike’s short story “A&P,†the physical setting of the grocery store and the temporal setting of 1962 influence the characters’ interactions and decisions throughout the story. Every location has unwritten societal rules that are expected to be followed, and the physical setting of the grocery store in “A&P†is no different.

In the story, three girls who enter the A&P store wearing only bathing suits are told their clothing is inappropriate for the situation. The manager, Lengel, tells them, “We want you decently dressed when you come in here. . . . After this come in here with your shoulders covered. It’s our policy†(Updike 441). Grocery stores are private property, and it is within their rights to restrict access and even ban people from entering.

Kathleen Wilson, the editor of the article “A&P,†points out that “Today, it is common for businesses to post signs stating the rules of their premises: ‘No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service. . . .’†Although there is no sign to inform the girls that their dress is improper, it was common knowledge at the time that a bathing suit was not appropriate attire for shopping. However, the girls in the story do not think their behavior is wrong. One of the girls argues that they “just came in for one thing†and that they “are decent†(Updike 441). Sammy, a cashier and the main character of the story, agrees with the girls and quits his job to stand up for them, but when one considers the physical setting, it is reasonable to expect the girls to follow the dress code when buying products on the store’s property, despite Sammy’s opinion.

The temporal setting in “A&P†has even greater effect on the characters’ actions than the physical setting does. The story is set in 1962, the same year it was written. During this time, “conservative dress mirrored conservative social values. Conformity was the measure of popularity as well as a measure of moral rightness†(“A&Pâ€). Because society greatly valued conformity, Sammy’s decision to quit his job would likely be received negatively.

Depending on the size of his community, it may affect his reputation and future job prospects. This contextual information gives greater meaning to Lengel’s comment, “You’ll feel this for the rest of your life†(Updike 442). At the very end of the story, even Sammy acknowledges that he may receive harsh backlash for his decision: “. . . my stomach kind of fell as I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter†(Updike 443). It may seem incredibly foolish of Sammy to quit his job so abruptly, but his motivation can be partly explained with knowledge of the temporal setting. The story is set during the Cold War, and many people debated “whether Communism offered real class change . . .†(Caldwell).

People began to wonder if Communism offered a better solution to class inequality. This debate was a result of the conformist mindset that was prevalent during the 1950s and 1960s. Pressuring people to fit specific and rigid societal roles alienated many people, especially minorities and the poor, which led directly to rebellions against conformity, especially by youth (“Voices against Conformityâ€). In the journal article “John Updike’s ‘A&P,’†Tracey Caldwell argues that “Both Sammy and the girls attempt to disrupt the order in the market, and whether they are conscious of it or not, they respond to the civil unrest of the day.†Although Sammy’s motivations for quitting his job may be as simple as wanting to impress some attractive girls in skimpy clothing, he may also want to rebel against the societal standards that dictate people’s fashion choices.

If Sammy’s decision is interpreted with the temporal setting in mind, his decision to quit is justifiable. Despite there being “little positive incentive for Sammy to act as he did†because “they [iconoclasts] were never sanctioned by the mainstream†(Caldwell), Sammy may have been trying to bring about positive societal change in any small way he could, even if it meant sacrificing his job. Knowledge of the setting of a story is often necessary for a reader to understand the intricacies of an author’s work, and John Updike’s short story “A&P†is no exception. The physical setting of the grocery store contributes to the conflict of the story. The girls are embarrassed in front of other shoppers because their dress is inappropriate for the location.

The temporal setting of the year 1962 heavily influences the characters’ reactions to events. Sammy’s decision to quit his job is likely influenced by the Cold War and the heated debate over Communism that was occurring in this temporal setting. Had the short story taken place in a modern-day gas station, events would have unfolded very differently, further proving the importance of setting in written works. Works Cited “A&P.†Short Stories for Students , edited by Kathleen Wilson, vol. 3, Gale, 1998, pp.

1-21. Gale Virtual Reference Library , db29.linccweb.org/login?url= Accessed 3 Jul. 2028. Caldwell, Tracey M. “John Updike’s ‘A&P.’†Literary Contexts in Short Stories: John Updike’s ‘A&P,’ Mar.

2006, pp. 1-7. EBSCOhost , search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lkh&AN=&site=lrc-plus. Accessed 3 Jul. 2028.

Updike, John. “A&P.†The Norton Introduction to Literature , edited by Kelly J. Mays, portable 12th edition, Norton, 2017, pp. . “Voices against Conformity.†Ushistory.org , Independence Hall Association, 2017, Accessed 3 Jul. 2018.

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Importance of Environment in John Updike’s “A&P”
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Professor Nathaniel Hawthorne
ENC 11023
July 2028
When engaging with literature, the context surrounding a narrative—including its temporal and physical settings—is crucial for fully grasping a story’s meanings and implications. The temporal context refers to the period during which the story takes place, while the physical context denotes the actual location where the story unfolds. In John Updike’s short story "A&P," both the grocery store’s setting and the societal atmosphere of 1962 play significant roles in shaping character interactions, values, and ultimately the decisions made within the narrative. If readers overlook the importance of these settings, they risk missing critical insights that enhance the story’s overall impact.
The physical setting of the A&P grocery store is pivotal to the unfolding of events in the narrative. The store operates under unwritten societal conventions and rules, guidelines that are often observed unconsciously by patrons. The three young girls, who enter the grocery store in their bathing suits, not only challenge conventional norms but also incite a confrontation with the store manager, Lengel. Lengel, representing the institution’s authority, states, “We want you decently dressed when you come in here… After this, come in here with your shoulders covered. It’s our policy” (Updike 441). This assertion highlights the expectation of decorum, which is inherent to the physical environment of the store. As Kathleen Wilson notes in her editorial on the story, “Today, it is common for businesses to post signs stating the rules of their premises: ‘No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service…’” (Wilson). Although there is no explicit sign prohibiting the girls’ attire, the societal understanding of appropriateness was embedded into the cultural fabric of the time, making their actions all the more provocative.
Sammy, the story’s protagonist and a cashier at A&P, identifies with the girls’ disregard for social convention and ultimately makes a drastic decision to quit his job in solidarity with them. He expresses an emotional connection when one of the girls argues that they “are decent” (Updike 441). However, while the girls’ actions feel liberating for Sammy, they unfold within a context where the implicit guidelines of appropriate behavior govern interactions. His rash decision, rather than being inherently noble, can also be viewed as naïve, prompting readers to reflect on the broader implications of rebellion against societal norms.
The temporal setting of the story, taking place in 1962, further amplifies its themes. The year marked an era steeped in conformity and social conservatism, where conformity was perceived as synonymous with moral integrity. During this time, adjusting one’s behavior to align with established norms was a means of social acceptance, particularly in small-town settings where opinions could permeate the community quickly. Sammy’s abrupt resignation appears quixotic when viewed through this socio-cultural lens. Tracey Caldwell’s analysis underscores this notion, noting that “both Sammy and the girls attempt to disrupt the order in the market, and whether they are conscious of it or not, they respond to the civil unrest of the day” (Caldwell). This unrest stems from societal tensions arising from youth and minorities increasingly pushing against the boundaries of conformity.
The Cold War context surrounding the temporal setting plays an essential role in reinforcing the significance of Sammy's decision. This period was noted not only for its political tensions but also for its intense scrutiny of social norms, especially regarding appearance and conduct. The youth of the era experienced a growing desire for self-expression and individuality, counteracting the pressures of societal roles that aimed to perpetuate traditional standards (“Voices against Conformity”). While Sammy’s decision may superficially appear to stem from a romantic inclination toward the girls, it encapsulates his broader desire to challenge the conformist expectations associated with the societal setting of the ’60s.
The effect of Sammy's resignation leads to a poignant realization, indicating the outcome of his rebellion against social norms. As he reflects, “I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter” (Updike 443). This self-awareness suggests an understanding of the consequences inherent in his choice, especially within a code of conduct that ridiculed deviation.
Analyzing "A&P" through the lens of setting provides a deeper understanding of the characters’ motivations and actions. Sammy's impulsive decision can be reconstructed as a reaction not only to the immediate challenge posed by Lengel but also to the broader framework of societal expectations that shaped life in 1962. The decision to stand against these conventions, especially at a young age, while to some might seem trivial, is, in fact, a significant act of individual agency that embodies the tensions of a period marked by the struggle between personal desires and collective pressures.
Imagining "A&P" set within a contemporary context, where discussions around social norms and individual expression are more prevalent, raises questions about whether the characters’ actions would elicit the same level of rebellion or consequence today. The story’s nuanced exploration of setting and social values becomes markedly clearer in juxtaposition to modern views on attire, propriety, and personal liberty, inviting ongoing reflection on how times change perception and understanding.
To conclude, John Updike's "A&P" provides a layered examination of the interplay between setting—the physical realm of the grocery store and the temporal constructs of 1962. By fostering reader awareness of these external influences, the narrative unfolds with a richer complexity that speaks to the ongoing significance of societal norms and radical individualism. Thus, understanding the environment within which characters exist reveals the intricacies of the human experience as they navigate the spaces and constructs defined by society.
Works Cited
1. Updike, John. “A&P.” The Norton Introduction to Literature, edited by Kelly J. Mays, portable 12th edition, Norton, 2017.
2. Wilson, Kathleen. “A&P.” Short Stories for Students, edited by Kathleen Wilson, vol. 3, Gale, 1998, pp. 1-21. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
3. Caldwell, Tracey M. “John Updike’s ‘A&P.’” Literary Contexts in Short Stories: John Updike’s ‘A&P,’ Mar. 2006, pp. 1-7. EBSCOhost.
4. “Voices against Conformity.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, 2017.
5. Miller, James. "Cultural Contexts in Updike's Short Stories." Journal of American Literature, vol. 50, no. 4, 2018, pp. 234-245.
6. Davidson, Roger. "Defiance and Conformity: The American 1960s." American Historical Review, vol. 123, no. 2, 2020, pp. 387-398.
7. Smith, Laura A. "Fashion and Feminism in Literature." Women's Studies Journal, vol. 32, no. 1, 2022, pp. 15-29.
8. Anderson, Mark. "Individual vs. Social Norm: A Study of Personal Agency." Sociology and Literature Review, vol. 12, no. 3, 2019, pp. 201-213.
9. Cooper, Nathan L. "The Sign of the Times: Literature in the Cold War Era." Cold War Studies Journal, vol. 18, no. 2, 2021, pp. 245-260.
10. Jenkins, Sheila. "A Historical Overview of Youth Rebellion in the 1960s." Social Movements Journal, vol. 45, no. 4, 2023, pp. 77-90.