A society consists of a community of people living together and sharing customs and traditions. Once immersed in this society, one can begin to see certain norms woven into the social fabric of the community. These norms, ranging from not entering public places scantily clad to not embarrassing people in front of others, are usually unspoken and sometimes cause conflict. Young adults often find these norms extremely restrictive and value freedom of action over collective control. Commonly known as individualism, this social theory is very much alive in the hearts and actions of young adults and never completely leaves the human as they grow and "mature." In the middle class, American Protestant individualism is overthrown in favor of traditional societal norms and customs. Protestant America happens to be the setting for three stories written by author John Updike. An examination of these short stories reveals that John Updike incorporates the struggles young adults experience as they attempt to maintain their individualism and protest as well as question the fact that society's norms are blurred. The first short story in which Updike delineates the conflict between individualism and societal norms is "A & P." Set in an A&P grocery store, the story follows the struggle of a young man named Sammy who spits on the standards of a grocery store in a seaside town and turns instead to his newfound individual freedom (Porter, 320). First, Sammy observes the behavior of people in the store. "They just want to get along, follow the cart in front of them down the aisles without incident... It's like they're praying, 'Help me get through life without incident, Lord.' Don't let me feel pain and,...... middle of paper ......G=0>.Updike, John. “A&P.” The first stories 1953-1975. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004. 596-601. Print.Updike, John and John Updike. "Lifeguard." The first stories 1953-1975. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004. 602-607. Print.Updike, John, John Updike and John Updike. "Nudity." The first stories 1953-1975. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004. 389-394. Print. Wells, Walter. "John Updike's 'A&P': A Return Visit to Arabia." » Studies in short fiction Spring 1993: 127-33. Rep. in Short Stories for Students. Ed. Kathleen Wilson. Flight. 3. Detroit: Gale, 1998. 1-21. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Internet. March 30. 2010. .