The characters in the story “A&P 1” by John Updike are unique in a way that cannot be compared to other characters. Each character has their own personal flaws, as well as their own personal beliefs, and ultimately, each character has their own actions. It is important to recognize all of these aspects, as well as the effects of these aspects and events on other characters to understand the ultimate lesson depicted by the author throughout this story. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Sammy, the main character of this short story who is also the narrator, is a clerk at a grocery store called "A&P". Throughout the story the reader gains more knowledge about Sammy's daily activities in his job and the people he encounters every day. While it may not be clearly stated in the text, Sammy is a rather critical individual. Immediately at the beginning of this story, he observes and inspects the girls entering the store. In the opening sentence of the story, Sammy states, “In come these three girls dressed only in bathing suits” (437). Later in the second paragraph, he goes on to say, “There was this big one, with the two pieces…there was this one, with one of those chubby berry faces…and a tall one” (438). Sammy goes on to examine every detail of the girls, from the way each of them walked through the store, to the color and texture of their hair. He also gives each of the girls their own nicknames regarding their appearance. Later, Sammy's manager, Lengel, interrupts the girls checking out at his register to tell them that their clothes are not appropriate for the store. At the same time as his manager turns away and the girls hurry to leave the store, Sammy tells Lengel that he is quitting his job. Whether Sammy did it to impress girls, or for a more personal reason, it's obvious that there's a rebellious nature within him. Since Lengel is the reason why Sammy is conflicted throughout this story and why he made the crucial decision to quit his job, it is obvious that Sammy is the protagonist while Lengel is the antagonist. Each of these characters in the story, including the sheep, described as the small number of other shoppers in the store, is central to each character's actions throughout the story. For example, without the three girls' decision to enter the store wearing nothing but bathing suits, or without Lengel's decision to confront them about their clothes, who knows whether or not Sammy would have made the same decision to leave some all his work. Also, if the story ended in such a way that Sammy didn't quit his job, the plot would change. This story wouldn't be the same without any missing individuals, and it wouldn't be the same if you completely changed the personalities of all the characters. This is a great example that describes how the grocery store originally known as "The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company" and the characters in this story could be real (437). Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay Ultimately, it is important to recognize and understand that each character is responsible for their own actions, as well as those of others. Decisions made by each character can impact the decisions of other characters. That said, each character's decisions ultimately contribute to the lesson of this story, which is that a decision made must be a decision followed by action. In the end, looking back on past decisions will never allow one.