Coming of Age in John Updike’s “A&P”

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Coming-of-Age Genre
Conclusion
Work Cited

Introduction

Coming-of-age stories depict the protagonist who transfers from teenager to adult. Usually, these stories denote the young person who goes through certain events that make them aware of adulthood. In A&P by John Updike, the reader encounters the young narrator whose principles are developed with the flow of the story. It is essential to examine the link between coming of age and John Updike’s A&P to see the main character’s transformation.

Coming-of-Age Genre

The subject of this type of literature is typically teenagers or young people. Moreover, the coming-of-age genre is often interchangeable with bildungsroman, the story of moral growth and behavioral development. Coming-of-age literature is associated with psychological advancement from teenagerhood to adulthood. In addition, characteristics of this genre are mental or physical obstacles, conflict of interests, emotional responses, and changes, which lead to personal growth. Therefore, several essential concepts of the coming-of-age genre include teenagers or young people and the presence of struggles and emotions, which cause moral evolution in the protagonist. A&P by John Updike is a brilliant example of the relevant genre, as it contains the main character’s development through the conflict.

The Narrator Encounters Three Girls

This story demonstrates the main hero who works in the grocery. He faces three girls who come to the shop to buy something; it might seem that these females have visited the beach as they wear swimsuits. However, the text states that there is no beach around, as the action takes place in north Massachusetts, far from the sea (Updike 1). Girls’ appearance shocked people in the grocery store; usually, people come to the shop wearing clothes, not swimsuits. However, the protagonists quickly denoted every female and described them. For example, he sees the tall girl in the green swimsuit; he thinks the bathing suit is new and has enough time to examine it in detail. This image distracts him from doing his job; indeed, he proceeds to look at females.

Another girl is a female who does not attract the narrator; he seems to offend the girl by completely ignoring her. The last female whom the main character sees is a ‘Queenie,’ as he is embarrassed by her impressive appearance and behavior, calling her ‘striking and attractive’ (Updike 2). The narrator is not shy to glaze at her constantly, which flatters him. This episode shows the genuine interest of a young man in women. The narrator consciously emphasizes the importance of Queenie, as she varies significantly from other people in the grocery. Queenie is an example of a female free of judgments and presuppositions about people’s appearance. Although other visitors might condemn her for her lavish look, she knows why she is here and what to do. Unlike the main character, she does not feel shy or embarrassed by other people’s views. At the beginning of the story, he is the type of person who is inclined to value other people’s opinions more than those of him.

The Young Protagonist is Amazed by the Girls

It is vital to note that the main hero is nearly nineteen years old; it is possible to state that the young man is attracted by women’s beauty which is typical for his age. Moreover, he works in the grocery, giving a particular image of his ordinary life. He is a relatively responsible young man who can earn money at a young age. However, there is a twenty-two-year-old manager with a higher job title than the protagonist. Furthermore, Lengel, the manager is married and has two children; indeed, he is inclined to glance at three girls as well (Updike 2). Lengel represents the older figure, although having two children at twenty-two might seem surprising. Indeed, with the help of this literary technique, the author provides readers with a more confident and adult image of the manager. The narrator compares the Queenie to a ‘prima donna,’ describing her outstanding appearance and manner of behavior (Updike 2). He thinks the two girls are her escort rather than her friends, as the Queenie stands out from these two females. The narrator nearly forgot his job duties; the reader sees how he struggles with completing ordinary things such as interacting with the cashbox (Updike). Thus, the protagonist is shocked by three girls in bathing suits, but his attention belongs to the Queenie. It is an episode where the Queenie appears as a trigger for the protagonist to become more confident. The girl does nearly nothing to attract the main character; indeed, her behavior fosters his desire to change.

The Protagonist Has Less Power Than the Manager

Apart from evident job superiority, Lengel, the manager, takes power into his hands, oppressing the protagonist. For example, closer to the end of the story, the manager expresses dissatisfaction with the girls’ appearance. He states that bathing suits in their shop are inappropriate and asks them to be clothed another time (Updike 2). It is a demonstrative episode that later leads to the conflict; Lengel changes his opinion rapidly. Although the manager stared at girls, he decided to express his superiority by this statement, humiliating girls in public. This episode makes readers think about the role of social standards, people’s perceptions, and freedom of opinion.

The Protagonist is Coming of Age

After the abovementioned incident, a conflict emerges between the main hero and the manager. The protagonist feels unsatisfied with Lengel’s public speech and takes the initiative. He says ‘I quit’ to his manager and argues why Lengel should not have embarrassed girls (Updike 3). It is the first time the reader sees the main character in a powerful and robust state. He frees himself from the manager’s oppression and expresses his honest opinion. The protagonist has nothing to lose anymore; he realizes that social norms and conventional views do not fit his standards. Moreover, his moral growth starts in this episode; he takes the position of an adult whose opinion should be considered. Accordingly, he realizes that the manager is no longer a powerful and almighty figure for him. In the adult position, the main character can say his opinion about the manager’s actions, which were inappropriate to the girls.

Conclusion

Overall, A&P by John Updike is a demonstrative story of a young man who experiences coming of age. Examining A&P‘s connection to the character’s development is essential for seeking factors that influenced the protagonist’s moral advancement. The three girls become a trigger for the protagonist, who realizes that he cannot stand the manager’s oppression by imposing social norms. This story contains components of coming-of-age literature; the main hero goes through emotional conflict with the manager, experiences controversial feelings, and achieves psychological growth. After the conflict, the manager takes the position of a teenager who blindly believes in social standards. The moral advancement comes when the main character quits his job, relying on his adult perception and principles.

Work Cited

Updike, John. A&P: Lust in the Aisles. Redpath Press, 1986.

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