The assigned topic for this essay was to compare Alice WalkerÃÂs ÃÂEveryday UseÃÂ and John UpdikeÃÂs ÃÂA & PÃÂ. This essay reviews common themes connecting the two stories characters and plots. Typical five paragraph essay style, short and to the point. The source of the stories was Kennedy and GioiaÃÂs Literature: An Introduction To Fiction, Poetry, and Drama; one other internet source was used. The works cited page is in MLA format.
ÃÂEveryday Use and A & PÃÂUpdikeÃÂs ÃÂA & PÃÂ and WalkerÃÂs ÃÂEveryday UseÃÂ both use a first person perspective to introduce the conflicts each narrator must address. Each storyÃÂs conflict centers around social status and culture as well as moral character. In ÃÂA & PÃÂ, Sammy must decide whether he should stand up for what he believed is right and reject his bossÃÂ unfair treatment of the young female customers or continue in his obedient societal position as a cashier, checking the ÃÂsheepÃÂ through the register (Updike).
MamaÃÂs character, in ÃÂEveryday UseÃÂ, faces conflict with her daughter Dee when she realized that while she and her other daughter Maggie live their culture, Dee had forgotten what her heritage meant and wanted only to use it to show her superiority. Each character is forced to make a decision based on their values.
ÃÂA & PÃÂ centers around 1960s white American culture. In this time, each person conformed to the culture and performed their duties as outlined by the corporate rules set by society. Sammy checked the ÃÂSheepÃÂ through the checkout and his boss, Lengle, maintained order and enforced the rules of the establishment. When the three scantily clad girls entered the store, to Sammy, they represented freedom, elevated social status, and the embodiment of his sexual desires. In quitting his job, Sammy freed himself from the establishment all...