Confidence and Innocence Through Point of View

John Updikes well-known short story, A & P, employs a unique form of narrative, utilizing the first person point of view.The themes of innocence and confidence of the youth intertwine in Updikes story, through a athletics in narrative tone, as made executable by the first person point of view. As an effect of this narrative form, the story begins abruptly In walks these tierce girls in nonhing but bathing suits. The tension that will slowly build up as the story progresses is given right outside(a) at the narrations first blow.Followed by the first sentence is a statement from the persona, which serves as a device to establish the storys setting. At this point, a camera is set up for us in the place where the story happens. The voice in the narrative serves as the set of eyeball by which we witness all events taking place. Set in the A & P grocery store, the story unfolds in a setting of complex complex body partshelves with items lined up and several identical aisles.Perhaps , with this focused and limited set of eyes, the first person point of view allows the reader to get a alter description of the A & Ps surroundings Im in the third check-out slot, with my back to the door . . . Throughout the story, we meet char modus operandiers and witness events through this perspective.Updikes narration, however, is not just unique in terms of point of view. The choice of perspective also enables the reader to hear a distinct voice. go with by a pair of eyes is a voice and tone that contributes to strengthening the realistic feel of the story. It is noticeable that the language used by the occasion is very conversational, making it feel like the voice connects directly to the reader. Not only does it tell the story it slowly forms a personality, which, in this case of use the first person point of view, is not excluded from the storys turn of events.In A & P, we witness an incident caused by three teenage girls in bathing suits from the perspective of Sammy, a nineteen-year-old boy working at the check-out counter. It is interesting that his name is not revealed until the late middle portion of the story. Nevertheless, his character has already been accomplished at the very beginning, where we hear his voice and vi autoiously experience the story. To further explore this point, let me cite a few lines, which contribute to establishing Sammys character.Seeing the three girls in bathing suits, he immediately focuses his attention to one girl, which he refers to as a chunky kid. Here, by noting his word choice, Sammy already appears to us as a free-spirited teenager. This is reiterated as he comments on the customer who complains as Sammy rings the purchase a second time Shes one of these cash-register-watchers, a witch around fifty with rouge on her cheekbones and no eyebrows, and I know it made her day to trip me up. Shed been watching cash registers forty years and probably neer seen a mistake before.These lines are dabbed with a sen se of annoyance towards elders, and in this case, an old lady. Later on in the story, we get the same feel in his somewhat mocking remark . . . women generally put on a shirt or shorts or something before they get out of the car into the street. And anyway these are usually women with six children and varicose veins mapping their legs and nobody, including them, could care less.This tone, which brings with it a sense of confidence freedom of spirit, also shows us the innocence understructure the personalityhis opinions are quite shallow, leaning towards trivial matters. This overall tone contributes and prepares us for the shifts that occur in the story. The finality in Sammys tone falters when he begins to speak of Lengel, the single figure of authority in the story. More and more, the compute presented to us of Lengel reveals Sammys innocence. And indeed, the storys conclusion confirms it.The presence of the three girls in A & P also reflects the innocent confidence of the youth . Baring all, they brazenly enter into a place, not caring that their outfits dont blend in. At first, it appears to us as a dare, as something that Queenie perhaps suggesteda rebellious act, which could probably be an act against authority, intended to project superiority over rules and adults.However, this queen-like image of strength also falters at the entrance of Lengel into the story. Lengel obviously represents authorityas manager and as Sunday School teacher. Firm in his tonenot defensive or angry, nor is he loud and uncontrolled, he calls out the unfitting clothing worn by these three young ladies.As he speaks, we feel the relentless contrast of tone between him and the teenagers in the story. Right after this, one of the girl mentions her mother as an excuse My mother asked me to pick up a jar of herring snacks. Immediately, the brazen air to Queenie vanishesshe appears to us as a little girl hiding under her mothers skirt. By inserting a figure as Lengel into the narrati ve, Sammys tone is helplessly muffledas if he suddenly gives in to how things areand not as how he perceives things to be.The events that succeed feel like a gradual crash. Impulsive as he is, Sammy decides to play the role of an unsuspected hero. And the way he narrates his story implies that his next act is only seemingly brave, defiant, and strong.He makes his motives clear The girls, and whod blame them, are in a hurry to get out, so I phrase I quit to Lengel agile enough for them to hear, hoping theyll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero. Not knowing how to handle the situation, he puts up a front, faltering more and more I started to say something that came out Fiddle-de-doo. Its a saying of my grand- mothers, and I know she would have been pleased.Again, figures of authority are projected in the storythe mention of his grandmother, for instance. Soon after that, Lengels input to Sammys impulsiveness makes him look even more innocent and youngan image which veers away from the initial confidence suggested by the tone made possible by the narrations first person point of view Lengel sighs and begins to look very patient and old and gray. Hes been a friend of my parents for years.Sammy, you dont want to do this to your Mom and Dad, he tells me. Parents once again come into the picture. And the mockery thrown by the