Summary
This is the name of the 19 year old narrarator who works as a cashier at A & P
Who is Sammy
The girls attire challenges these societal expectations
What are social norms or dress codes
Sammys focus on the girls' physical appearance exemplifies this concept
What is the male gaze
This part of the Freudian theory is represented in Sammy's impulsive attraction to the girls
What is the id
This social class is represented by Sammy, who works for wages in a corporate-owned store
What is the working class
Sammy gives this nickname to the leader of the three girls who enter the store
Who is Queenie?
This theme is shown in Sammy's decision to quit his job
What is rebellion (or individualism)
This character's nickname symbolizes how the narrator reduces her worth as a complex individual
Who is Queenie
Sammy's internal conflict between quitting and staying represents this Freudian theory
This character represents the interests of the bourgeoisie by enforcing company rules
Who is Lengel
This character is the store manager who enforces the dress code
Who is Lengel
Sammy compares Queenie and her friends to this metaphor, showing his romanticed view for them
What are sheep
Feminists argue that the setting may reinforce male dominance by allowing the male narrator to objectify the girls
What is the grocery store (A&P)
Lengel's role of authority enforcing the rules can be seen as this aspect of Freud's theory
What is the superego
This setting can be viewed as a symbol for capitalist consumer culture
What is the A&P grocery store
This is the item Queenie purchases at the store
What is herring snacks
The girls in the bathing suits represent this larger theme for youth
What is innocence
Sammy's decision to quit his job is critiqued for being based on superficial motivation
What is sexualization of the girls
Sammy's decision to quit his job may symbolize this psychological process
What is the Oedipal rebellion
Sammy's act of quitting can be viewed as this kind of resistance
What is class consciousness
This is the literary point of view used in the story
What is first person
The store itself serves as a metaphor, symbolizing social norms
What is social structure
This power dynamic is where male characters control the female characters through public shaming and dress codes
What is patriarchal authority
Sammy's narrative, focusing on the girl's bodies, suggests this kind of psychological projection
What is transference
The girls' presence in the store disrupts the norm, challenging these economic structures
What are capitalist norms