Essay on Feminism in John Updike's A&P

Introduction

The main criticisms going on in the Updike's short story is that of feminist and gender point of view. In the literary criticism, feminist criticism focuses on studying and advocating the rights of women in the society. A&P is a story that talks about a young man known as Sammy whom through his hormonal/sexual desires shows no respect to women. The girls in the bathing suits are not only seen as sex objects but also negatively looked upon as witches, farm animals, and even slaves. Therefore, Updike provides a feminist criticism by focusing on women's issues and their ongoing tribulations.

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Updike's A&P story view women as house-slaves instead of housewives. According to Pomeroy (234), a slave woman is one who is clever enough in setting upon a throne. In the early 1960s, women had a role of taking care of the family and hence ought to be treated as a life partner and not as a slave. Due to their sacrifices, they should be treasured people in the family and community without being underestimated. Also, A&P view women as immoral people in the community who are underestimated by men. Shakespeare underestimates women by describing them as "frailty, thy name is the woman" (Dusinberre 19). A&P portrays the frailty of the women when Updike says, "in walks these three girls in nothing but bathing suits" (112). The three girls walk into the A&P while dressed indecently hence exhibiting human frailty. Since the narration of the story was by a man, immoral behavior of men is less highlighted in the story. However, Sammy's perception towards the three girls and the old woman was different in that he admired the physical appearance of Queenie but labeled others including the old woman as a witch. Generally, the flaw in the community should not be based solely on women only but be pointed to all people.

Women are featured as animals. Similarly, Horace Walpole in his article view women as "hyena in petticoats" (169). A&P stereotypically exemplify women as sheep when he says "the sheep pushing their carts down the aisle" (Updike 231). Equalizing women to animals is inhuman since they are also human beings like the others. Additionally, A&P considers them as brainless who are intellectually inferior to men. For instance, Sammy underestimate the thoughts of Queenie when he says "you never know for sure how girl's minds work; do you really think it's a mind in there or just a little buzz like a bee in a glass jar?" (230). This clearly shows how Sammy is not fascinated by the way the woman thinks but about how she looks. He is ignorant of the working of the mind of the women and wishes not to understand them. He sees them as people who are fundamentally wrong in mind as they don't think like him. He further exhibits ignorance in his assumptions when he says "poor kids, I began to feel sorry for them, they couldn't help it" (3). Through this, he shows that women should be ashamed when men take notices of them as to him; women are weak individuals who don't act out of cause but as people who get humiliated by men's reactions. Unlike past, women today are on par with men and to some extent, they are highly educated than men hence thinking on the same level as men.

Women are seen as second class people in the era of A&P. They are a "characteristic of past and lower state of civilization" (Charles 172). Lengel who holds a position as a manager in A&P represents an aggressive man with hierarchical power and used his position to attack and embarrass women. Unlike in the past where women were to give in to men, today gender equality is more prevalent and women don't accept such treatment. They are highly educated and are becoming more outspoken compared to the past. Also, there are laws that are enforced to offer protection to rights of women and the aim is to strive for equality of all. Furthermore, A&P perceives women to be sex objects. Men see women in sexy bathing suits and not as humans (12). The three girls in A&P are portrayed in bathing suits and vivid details about their body figures are well illustrated by Sammy. He also admires the chest of Queenie and compares it to "two smoothest cups of vanilla" (123). Sammy goes ahead and tags the other girl as "goony-Goony" (123) simply because he was ridiculed by her height and body feature. To him, the value of a woman is only positioned in the desirable body hence lessening the female worth and flaw of the female beauty.

Contrary to Sammy, Queenie symbolizes an independent female who seeks to act equal to her male corresponding person. Even though Sammy he is a sexist, he acknowledges her independence when he says, "she didn't look around, not this queen, she just walked straight on..." (145). Even in her walking style, she portrays confidence and individuality while disregarding the reactions of others. Merely, she does as she pleases without requiring any male approval. However, this disturbs the regular customers who represent the housewives and the husbands. They do not approve the views of Queenie but prefer to stick to their social norms. They'd rather live in mindless obedience of the social norm and not accept the change brought about by Queenie and other two girls who are so unique and revolutionary. Thus, these slaves shut down the idea of independence of women in the society. In doing so, they provide a chance for a male character to establish a woman place where they have to conform to it. Sammy terms women as house slaves indicating that they are enslaved by the community and they are limited within the walls of their homes. Solemnly, they are meant to clean houses and feed their men. Even though Sammy can like women to be strong, independent and free from social norms, this can, on the other hand, pose a threat to their masculinity. Lengel, the kingpin when he notices the actions of the girl, he quickly steps up to shield his masculinity. He attempts to put the girls back by removing them from their established place. Dessner argues that "women were to stay in one place and allow themselves to be walked on as house slaves providing sexual services to their men when they desired" (315). Male characters expect nothing less than silent obedience from their females but not bidding for freedom which threatens their masculinity.

Conclusion

A&P is a feminist work that focuses on women's issues and their ongoing tribulations. It gives an image of how women are oppressed by the social norms as clearly shown in Sammy's thought as he tries to establish their place. Although Queenie tries to establish women pace through her action of independence and individuality, he is pulled back by other male characters who feel threatened. Updike acknowledges that for women to be free, the social norms must be removed from the society. Erroneous thinking towards female character must be corrected and not be depicted as witches, farm animals or slaves. Their appearances and ability should not be underestimated by anyone in the society.

Work Cited

Horace, Walpole. "Northanger Abbey." Jane Austen. Palgrave, London, 2004. 39-61.

Pomeroy, Sarah. Goddesses, whores, wives, and slaves: Women in classical antiquity. Schocken, 2011.

Dessner, Lawrence Jay. "Irony and Innocence in John Updike's" A & P"." Studies in Short Fiction 25.3 (2013): 315.

Dusinberre, Juliet. Shakespeare and the Nature of Women. Springer, 2014.

Updike, John. A&P. The English Journal 61.8 (1962): 1155-1158.