Self-Motivation and Egocentrism in John Updike's A&P 'interest of a control clerk for three girls in swimsuits' (Peden). Although Peden's criticisms are perhaps harsher than necessary, it is difficult to find fault with his analysis. Sammy's story offers little more than a glimpse into a self-centered, driven mind, and while Updike may disagree with this conclusion, a close reading of the text offers significant evidence to support this theory. In “An Interview with John Updike,” Updike describes how Sammy quit as a “feminist protest” (153). However, I would argue that Sammy's act of defiance was selfishly motivated and represents his inner struggle with his social class, as demonstrated by his disregard for those around him and his motivated actions. Sammy has a tendency to put others down even for no reason. While admiring the girls, Sammy and Stokesie joke, and Sammy tells the reader, "I forgot to say that he thinks he'll become a manager one sunny day, maybe in 1990, when her name is Great Alexander and Petrooshki Tea Company or something like that. » (150). Sammy's use of the phrase "he thinks" informs the reader that Sammy does not actually believe that Stokesie will ever become a manager. The second part of the sentence also shows how condescending Sammy is; "A&P" was published in 1962, so for Sammy to say that Stokesie will become manager "...maybe in 1990" is essentially saying that it will never happen. There is no reason for Sammy to reject Stokesie's ambition, especially since Sammy is, at that moment, on exactly the same life path. In fact, Sammy himself realizes this, commenting: "Stokesie is married...but as far as I know he's the only... middle of paper... pt moving forward." Moments after stopping, he tells the reader, “I'm looking for my daughters, but they're gone, of course” (152). The possessive "my" shows that Sammy feels like he can claim these girls as his even though he doesn't know them at all, thus illustrating how he degrades others in order to elevate himself. This sentence also shows how unfair he feels the world is to him; by adding the “of course”, the reader gets the impression that Sammy is not always lucky in life. All of which brings us to the last sentence: “…my stomach sort of sank as I felt how hard the world was going to be for me next” (153). Even in his last words, Sammy thinks about himself and the effect the world will have on him and him alone. Works Cited William Harwood Peden (1964). The American News. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 70. OCLC 270220.

Essay / Self-Motivation and Egocentrism in John Updike's A&P 'interest of a control clerk for three girls in swimsuits' (Peden). Although Peden's criticisms are perhaps harsher than necessary, it is difficult to find fault with his analysis. Sammy's story offers little more than a glimpse into a self-centered, driven mind, and while Updike may disagree with this conclusion, a close reading of the text offers significant evidence to support this theory. In “An Interview with John Updike,” Updike describes how Sammy quit as a “feminist protest” (153). However, I would argue that Sammy's act of defiance was selfishly motivated and represents his inner struggle with his social class, as demonstrated by his disregard for those around him and his motivated actions. Sammy has a tendency to put others down even for no reason. While admiring the girls, Sammy and Stokesie joke, and Sammy tells the reader, "I forgot to say that he thinks he'll become a manager one sunny day, maybe in 1990, when her name is Great Alexander and Petrooshki Tea Company or something like that. » (150). Sammy's use of the phrase "he thinks" informs the reader that Sammy does not actually believe that Stokesie will ever become a manager. The second part of the sentence also shows how condescending Sammy is; "A&P" was published in 1962, so for Sammy to say that Stokesie will become manager "...maybe in 1990" is essentially saying that it will never happen. There is no reason for Sammy to reject Stokesie's ambition, especially since Sammy is, at that moment, on exactly the same life path. In fact, Sammy himself realizes this, commenting: "Stokesie is married...but as far as I know he's the only... middle of paper... pt moving forward." Moments after stopping, he tells the reader, “I'm looking for my daughters, but they're gone, of course” (152). The possessive "my" shows that Sammy feels like he can claim these girls as his even though he doesn't know them at all, thus illustrating how he degrades others in order to elevate himself. This sentence also shows how unfair he feels the world is to him; by adding the “of course”, the reader gets the impression that Sammy is not always lucky in life. All of which brings us to the last sentence: “…my stomach sort of sank as I felt how hard the world was going to be for me next” (153). Even in his last words, Sammy thinks about himself and the effect the world will have on him and him alone. Works Cited William Harwood Peden (1964). The American News. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 70. OCLC 270220.

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