It has been observed that teenagers take bad decisions especially when they are in bad company. Teenagers do not take bad decisions because they are vulnerable but they deliberately smoke, consume alcohol and have unprotected sex. This trend has been emerged as a major concern for parents and they are unable to understand how to solve it. This paper intends to discuss how teenagers take bad decisions and further discusses the major factors that are responsible for such bad decisions.
John Updike in the story, A&P portrays how a teenager’s bad decision can land him into weird situation. The character Sammy, who is also the narrator of the story, has been portrayed subtly by Updike before the readers (Updike). Updike lets the readers compose postulations about the quitting of Sammy by presenting every detail about the character. Updike presents the events of the story in a smooth and practical manner. The story is about a boy who used to work in a grocery store without much interest. One day three girls came into that store and it became the most exciting day for the boy.
The boy, Sammy had a deep interest in opposite sex and when he saw these girls, he became infatuated towards one of these beautiful girls. This girl, Queenie is also portrayed by Updike in very practical manner and the author has discussed from her dress to her expressions. When Sammy saw this girl, he started imagining his life with this girl and his attitude towards his duty became apathetic. When his employer reprimanded about his apathy, Sammy decides to leave the job. Sammy was in some kind of illusion and did not think about his future before leaving his job (Updike).
Updike has portrayed everything in a practical manner. The store, lights, everything that was stored in the store and counter of the store owner are portrayed in a way that corresponds with the characters as well as with the story. Updike also describes Sammy’s state of mind and presents what goes in his brain when he saw three girls. Updike portrays what he thinks about other customers and how serious he was towards his work. Sammy was aware of his situation but it has been portrayed how he left his job without considering about his future (Updike).
Updike has given importance to characters, their acts, conflicts as well as solutions. Every character is uniquely portrayed and acts in a way that suits to him or her. Sammy, Queenie, store owner, and friends of Queenie are portrayed in a realistic manner by the author. Every character acts in a corresponding manner which suits his or her personality. When girls enter in the grocery store, Updike portrays their entry in very realistic and pleasant manner and further shows how they attract Sammy. When Sammy decides to quit the job, his storeowner, who was an old and experienced man, tries to make him understand and reminds him about his liabilities towards his family.
Updike has portrayed the uncertainty and indecisiveness of teenagers in very realistic manner. Sammy was perhaps looking for a rich girl and when he saw Queenie, he developed an impression that Queenie may like him. Sammy left his only job perhaps in order to impress the girl and after quitting only, he comes to realize what he has done. Teenagers fail often in understanding the reality and land themselves into bizarre situations as Sammy did. He did not pay any attention to the store owner who was trying to genuinely advising Sammy. Sammy represents typical youngsters and his acts and decision are very much like a common indecisive teenager who lands himself in trouble due to bad decision (Updike).
Updike portrays the inner struggle that took place in brain of Sammy once he quitted his job. Sammy belonged to a small town where everybody was known to each other. Sammy starts thinking that people will start saying him as a quitter and everybody will doubt his capacity and ability to work. Sammy was more worried about his own family and their harsh words for quitting the job. On the other hand, there is wide scope for readers to interpret the story in a different manner. People may consider Sammy as a young man who quit his job as a protest and as a young man who believes in making his own way.
The struggle, indecisiveness and lack of vision of teenagers have been portrayed by John Updike in a practical manner in this story. Teenagers are prudent but still they are unable to see the future and sometimes they take immature decisions that are not in their interest. Teenagers even have a tendency to not listen to others and they take their decisions in the spur of the moment. These decisions are often painful and teenagers realize the same after making wrong decisions. It has been observed that the decisions, taken by teenagers are not well thought and planned.
Works Cited
Updike, Jhon. "Jhon Updike A & P." Mandell, L. G. Kirszner and S. R. Fiction: Reading, Reacting, Writing. USA: Paulinas, 1994. 92-99.
Updike, John. A & P: Lust in the Aisles. USA: Redpath Press, 1986.
