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  • Essay / The coming-of-age theme in A&P by John Updike, The Blue Chevrolet by Russell Banks, and The Return by H. Beam Piper

    The purpose of this essay is to analyze the short stories we read in over the last few years. a few weeks; “The Return”, “A&P” and “The Blue Chevrolet”. The theme of maturity throughout the short stories will be the main theme of this essay. This term refers to a young person who must go through difficult and upsetting experiences to reach a greater level of maturity. One of the male literary characters from each story will be highlighted to explain how he comes of age over the course of the story and how this may impact the issue of growing up. Another purpose of this essay is to talk about the importance of women in each story and how the role they played affected the plot of the story. The importance of the boys' ages and the time period in which each short story takes place will also be a topic covered in the essay. This is done in hopes of exposing more of the details of each of the stories. Examples and evidence from the stories will be used to support the conclusions/main points made in this essay. This will allow you to better understand the analyzed text. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get an Original Essay At the beginning of "A&P," the narrator Sammy is an ordinary 19-year-old who inhabits an in-between space between adulthood and adolescence. . Sammy's transition to adulthood is seen in his questioning of conformity. From the beginning of the story, Sammy makes it clear to readers that he is not like the other employees at the grocery store. He describes Stokesie, a work colleague aged just three, already married with two children. He adds that Stokesie hopes to become a manager one day. We then hear about Lengel, who he describes as hiding in the office all day. Neither man seems happy to Sammy. However, it is by observing the girls' reactions that he really begins to change. For Sammy, girls are an example of non-conformity. From the moment they walk into the store, they are working against the standards of this company. Their insistence that they are decent becomes a message to Sammy. While Lengel argues that they are not decent and that swimsuits are not appropriate attire for grocery stores, Sammy begins to realize that being different, even rebellious, is truly acceptable. Class is a big issue in “A&P.” Sammy divides the different people he comes into contact with into stereotypical groups. From the beginning of the story, he talks about the “sheep” or followers of his city. For him, everyone dresses, acts, speaks and thinks the same way. When he sees girls, especially Queenie, he sees that there are people who are capable of going beyond what is expected. By quitting his job, Sammy shows that he is gaining the power to do the same. His innocence and immaturity got the better of him. When Sammy leaves the supermarket, he instantly realizes what just happened. Sammy realizes he has to grow up now. And that being an adult is hard work. He no longer works for a family friend. That he is no longer a child. “My white shirt that my mother ironed the day before. » Ultimately, the class difference between Sammy and the girls means that his rebellion has far more serious ramifications than theirs. At the end of the story, Sammy feels "how hard the world is going to be" because not becoming a "sheep" won't be as easy as just walking away. In “The Blue Chevrolet,” the main character Chevy loses his innocence. during a.