Introduction about sexual appeal in “A&P”
Regarding sexual appeal in “A&P”, John Updike has woven several different strands of themes together in a way that none is separable from the other. Not only it seems like an ancient romance but also it touches on the conditions of the modern age. It is because now no old heroes come out to fight for the honor of damsels like King Arthur’s knights. Sex, romance, wealth, and democracy have changed the very concepts of love and honor. Wealth, everyday livelihood, and bread and butter are bigger realities staring into the faces of modern human beings. Although Sammy makes the courageous move of quitting the job, he finds himself in hot waters after he thinks that nobody pays attention to him. The reason is that even the girls have nothing to do with “their unsuspected hero” (Updike 452) that he thinks himself to be, and he hopes that “they’ll stop and watch me.” He then feels “how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter” (459) after he leaves the store. This shows that these heroic and self-centered decisions are made more based on sex and romantic notions rather than reality. About sexual appeal in “A&P”, the story not only shows the sex and sexual appeal of the teenage generation but also the romantic notions the teenagers harbor and the sexual symbols used in this story.
Objectives of Sexual Appeal in “A&P”
Sex and sex appeal in “A&P” are the primary objects that attract the minds of young men. This has further intensified during this modern age because now young minds find more attraction and more beauty. The example of the description of Sammy is a case in point. He states that the first one was “a chunky kid, with a good tan and a sweet broad soft- t” which clearly shows his focus—the queenie that he calls her (457). The same goes for the nameless narrator of “Araby” by James Joyce who sees Mangan’s sister in the same light whenever she comes out of her home to call her brother (Joyce). The look of both teenagers sees the sex and sex appeal in both ways. The next remarks made by Sammy are enough to show how Updike explores the teenage minds that such statements “become the matrix of the story, the backdrop that mirrors and parodies Updike’s society” (Metamorphictin). This shows that even with no sexual purpose, comments of Sammy clearly show that in other cases he would have taken such a bold step. This is because of his age and sexual appeal in “A&P”. This also could be called the romance of the medieval age when the knights used to come out to defend the honor of women.
Teenage and Sexual Appeal in “A&P”
However, this is the modern age and there is no such escapade. Now Sammy is to fight the battle of his livelihood against this modern age where he may have several prospects, but this livelihood does not come easily. However, when the “queenie” enters the story in two pieces, he immediately starts harboring different notions. Lengel, the manager of the A&P, seems to present the reality that is a social convention too that they are living far away from the beach and there is no concept of a two-piece-wearing girl. However, when they come, there is a buzz in the story over which he comes and sees it. This gives rise to a conflict while earlier Sammy has engaged himself in romantic reveries about the girls — specifically the queenie. Gena Miller Walters in her paper on the comparison between “Araby” and “A&P” states that “Sammy also attempts to win the attention of a beautiful girl by making a chivalric gesture” (Walters). These sorts of gestures were made in the medieval period. However, as it is based on the romantic notion, this is against the reality that is to conform to social norms. This immediately breaks his notion and he starts thinking about his future. To show this romance, Updike has filled the story with sexual symbols.
Symbols and Sexual Appeal in “A&P”
Updike has beautifully used his narrator to use these sexual symbols that make the story seem favoring feministic sexuality everywhere. The quitting of Sammy is in support of the girls because he is affected by feminine sexuality. This is a subjective approach as it affects the protagonist who immediately sees them “in nothing but bathing suits” (452) which is a sexual symbol. Then he uses different words with Stokesie who is also affected by this sexuality. However, George Bentley states in his paper “Sammy’s Erotic Experience: Subjectivity and Sexual Difference in John Updike’s “A&P”, that there is also male sexuality that is based on status, economic condition, role, power, and authority. Stokesie is a responsible male who is also engaged in role-play with Sammy, “the unsuspected hero (452). On the other hand, the bare condition of the girls, specifically the walking style of the queenie and her leading role is a strong sexual symbol that immediately works wonders on the spectators specifically the teenager, Sammy (Bentley). There are several other sex symbols too that increase sexual appeal in “A&P”.
Conclusion
In short, John Updike has beautifully used Sammy to give his opinion about sex in the modern period and the realities that are spread around the people. In fact, this also borders the sex appeal towards which Sammy gets attracted and quits his job but gets nothing in return. When he comes out the girls have left long ago. His notion of romance that he harbors about the girls, himself as a hero and the people around him as spectators dashes to the ground. He immediately comes to the reality but then it is done. Updike has presented several sexual symbols to bring his readers to his point that these are the modern-day realities that do not let romance and sexual appeal take hold of the world or teenage minds.
Works Cited
- Bentley, Greg W. “Sammy’s Erotic Experience: Subjectivity and Sexual Difference in John Updike’s “A&P.” Journal of the Short Story in English. [online]. 43 (Autumn 2004). 17 Sep. 2008. Web. 16 July 2015.
- Joyce, James. “Araby.” Online Literature. Online Literature. n. d. Web. 16 July 2015.
- Metamorphiction. “Sex and Dissent in Mid-Twentieth Century Literature.” Metamorphiction. Metamorphiction. 03 Jan. 2012. Web. 16 July 2015.
- Updike, John. “A&P”.” Charters, Anne. The Story and Its Writer. New York: Bedford /St. Martins, 2014. 452-459.
- Walters, Genna Miller. “Joyce’s “Araby” and Updike’s “A&P”: A Culture Hostile to Romance.” UGA. UGA. n. d. Web. 16 July 2015.
Relevant Questions about Sexual Appeal in “A&P”
- How does Sammy’s perception of sexual appeal in “A&P” drive his decision to quit his job?
- What role does the girls’ attire play in conveying sexual appeal in “A&P”?
- How do societal attitudes towards sexual appeal in “A&P” influence the store manager’s reaction to the girls’ attire?