A&P without tunnel vision

In our class discussion of Updike's story, A and P, I believe we allowed ourselves to "PCDS" our analysis of the story. What I mean by this is that we are guilty of human nature: we analyze and interpret literature from the perspective of our own lives and events we have experienced. As a result of this human tendency our relatively economically, educationally age nondiverse class, susceptible to reaching an agreed opinion of something in a novel while never seeing the other side.Such an incident of tunnel vision occurred in our class discussion of A and P. When we looked at Sammy’s position as a 19 year old store clerk, we unanimously concluded that it was simply a summer job. This finalized our perception of; Sammy, the right or wrongness of his decision and the magnitude of its impact, was greatly influenced by this unquestioned conclusion. Based on the pretense that it was a mere summer job, we characterized Sammy as a very emotional teenage boy who made a bad decision when caught in the moment, but in no measure a life altering one. However, this conclusion does not perfectly fit with the story. As we read on, Sammy’s boss, Lengel, is quoted as saying, “you don’t want to do this to your mom and dad” and he proceeds to say, “You’ll feel this for the rest of your life.” Legel’s quote referring to the feelings of Sammy’s parents abut Sammy’s decision could fit with his job being a summer job, though it also opens the door to the idea that this was an important job for Sammy. Perhaps his family needs the money which would, in the 60’s, suggest that Sammy might not be financially able to attend college. Legel’s second quote sends the reader into the door opened by his first lines. Deciding to quit a summer job may be a big, bad and brash decision, but it is not a decision that would be considered one to be regretted for the rest of Sammy’s life. Losing a summer job after all, leaves more time for sleeping in, hanging out with friends, and in Sammy’s case maybe even going to the beach a little bit more. No, Sammy’s decision to quit was a regrettable one because it was his immediate, and possibly long term, future. He walked out on his career over some girls in bathing suits. This is reaffirmed by Sammy’s final words, “I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter.” Once again one would not have this pessimistic tone after simply losing a summer job. These are the words and thoughts of an adult fired from his or her job after several years.
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