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 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 in order to understand the ultimate lesson portrayed by the author throughout this story. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essaySammy, the main character of this short story who is also the narrator, is an employee at a grocery store named “A&P”. Throughout the story, the reader gains more knowledge about Sammy's daily activities at work and the people he encounters each day. Although it is not clearly stated in the text, Sammy is quite a critical individual. Immediately at the start of this short story, he observes and inspects the girls entering the store. In the first sentence of the story, Sammy states, “These three girls walk in in their bathing suits” (437). Later in the second paragraph he goes on to say, “There was a big one, with the two pieces…there was this one, with one of those chubby berry faces…and a big one” (438). Sammy then examines every detail of the girls, from the way each of them walked around the store, to the color and texture of their hair. He even gives each of the girls their own nickname based on their appearance. Then, Sammy's manager, Lengel, interrupts the girls checking out to tell them that their clothes are unsuitable for the store. Just as his manager turns around and the girls rush to leave the store, Sammy tells Lengel that he's quitting his job. Whether Sammy did this to impress the girls or for a more personal reason, it's obvious that there is a rebellious nature within him. With Lengel being the reason why Sammy has conflicts throughout this story and why he made this crucial decision to quit his job, it is obvious that Sammy is the protagonist and 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, plays a central role in each character's actions throughout the story. For example, without the three girls' decision to enter the store wearing only swimsuits, 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 completely his job. Additionally, if the story ended in a way where Sammy didn't quit his job, the plot of the story would change. This story wouldn't be the same without the disappearance of an individual, and it would be the same if we 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 possibly be real (437). Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a custom template. article now from our expert writers.Get a Custom EssayUltimately, it is important to recognize and understand that each character is responsible for their own actions, as well as those of others. The decisions made by each character can impact the decisions of other characters. That being said, each character's decisions ultimately contribute to the lesson of this story, which is that a decision made must be..