Self-Motivation and Egocentrism in John Updike’s AP

William Peden once called John Updike’s â€Å"AP† â€Å"deftly narrated nonsense...which contains nothing more significant than a checking clerks interest in three girls in bathing suits† (Peden). While Peden’s criticism may be harsher than necessary, it is hard to find fault with his analysis. Sammy’s tale offers little more than insight into an egocentric and self-motivated mind, and while Updike may disagree with that conclusion, a close reading of the text offers significant evidence to support this theory. In â€Å"An Interview with John Updike†, Updike describes how Sammy quit as a â€Å"feminist protest† (153). However, I would argue that Sammy’s act of defiance was selfishly motivated and represents his inner struggle with his social class as†¦show more content†¦Instead of disregarding their ambition, he comments on their looks and intelligence. One of his first comments on the girls, after describing thei r looks, is: â€Å"You never really know for sure how girls’ minds work (do you really think it’s a mind in there or just a little buzz like a bee in a glass jar?) †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (149). By wondering if girls even have a brain, Sammy shows the reader that he has little respect for women’s intelligence. He also observes the girls’ bodies, comparing them to different foods. He describes various parts of their bodies as â€Å"joints† (150), a â€Å"can† (148), and, most creepily, he describes Queenie’s breasts as â€Å"the two smoothest scoops of vanilla I had ever known were there† (152). Using food as descriptors illustrates how Sammy sees the girls as little more than products. He looks at them as nothing more than lowly food objects to judge and objectify, and these condescending remarks demonstrate what little respect he has for anyone but himself. Even the shoppers are not safe from Sammy’s criticisms. He refe rs to the patrons as â€Å"sheep† (149) and â€Å"houseslaves in pin curlers† (150), stripping them of human qualities and equating them with animals and humans with no rights. Just as he does with Stokesie and the girls, Sammy separates the shoppers from himself, using non-human and derogatory terms to describe them while never mentioning anything the least bit critical of himself. In Sammy’s mind, it is he versus the town. His insecurities