In John Updike’s A&P, the main character Sammy, is developed through the use of setting. The story starts off with a young man discontent with his ordinary adult surroundings and moves to his need to change it. Throughout the story, Sammy describes and interprets the scenes around him consequently revealing his own character. Although the physical setting of the grocery store is left more to the imagination, Updike uses the vivid images of …showed first 75 words of 947 total…

…showed last 75 words of 947 total…blushed” made him “so scrunchy inside”. In conclusion, it is evident that the character of Sammy is developed through his personal interpretation of the setting around him. As Updike uses the characters to build the setting, Sammy begins to respond to their behaviors. Through the characters, Sammy sees pieces of his own personality reflected through their actions. He begins to see the contrast between what he sees in himself and who he wants to become.