Would the main character in `A&P` have been comfortable in the cultural context you were raised in? Write a brief analysis of how well the main character would fit in.

John Updike 's short story A

is really a story about following tradition vs . breaking tradition , conventional vs . nonconformity conservative vs . free spirited . People of a certain mindset cannot help but admire Sammy 's courage in standing up to the system ' At the same time the reader knows he won 't get anywhere . Sammy and the girls would absolutely function in the world today , much the same way they function in ours

The girls represent frivolity and fun . They don 't want to follow the rules . They enter the store in

their bathing suits and do not care that everyone is looking at them . There will always be those who don 't want to function in the way of the majority . There will always be those to which life is carefree

Mr . Lengel is also represented well in the world today . He represents the world of work and laws . Girls , I don 't want to argue with you After this come in here with your shoulders covered . It 's our policy (6 . Mr . Lengel feels that these girls are desecrating his place of business with their skimpy attire , but he still takes their money . Mr Lengel is a rule-maker and a rule-follower . He is not content to let people go their own way or do their own thing . Today , we have many Lengels . Think about anyone who wants to pass a law against abortion or same sex marriage . For these people , it is not enough that they simply will not have an abortion or marry a same-sex partner . They feel the need to legislate for everyone they are not content to let people march to their own drummer ' This is exactly what Lengel feels

Sammy is a free spririted youth who feels that these girls should be able to buy snacks in their bathing suits . Even if they are turning guy 's heads , who cares ? Certainly there are many Sammy 's in the world and the world is a harder place for them . While everyone around them want to make rules and laws , these people are content to let people do their own thing . Just like in A

, the Lengels usually outrank and outnumber the Sammy 's . Mr . Lengel 's outlook on life is narrow Sammy 's is wide and broad and able to accommodate many different types of people . To live in the world , the Sammy 's will have to buckle under to the Lengel 's over and over again . But every so often , the Sammy 's will take a stand to help them remember who they really are . The reader knows his life will be more difficult as does Sammy . When Lengel says You 'll feel this for the rest of your life ' Sammy thinks , and I know that 's true (5 . The last line of the story is I felt how hard the world has going to be hereafter (6 . Sammy understands his rare predicament

And of course , the sheep remain . These are the average...