We've seen and read opinions of what other critics thought of Updike's character, Sammy, and why he left A&P, but it's unlikely that "a young adult quits his job for "the girls" or "to defend his belief system." The third reviewer, Thompson, gives us pause and really makes us think about being in Sammy's shoes. "The text suggests, however, that Sammy is frustrated not because he can't woo Queenie but because of the time he spent at the supermarket and his daily encounters with customers Sammy wants to stop, but he is reluctant to do so because his parents don't. would disregard his decision I could never agree more with Thompson and his view of Sammy's situation. It's understandable to also get tired of working there and feel trapped in the search. a way to escape, an excuse to go out just to breathe from all the pressure of work and stay at work just to please what your parents might think. . “Presumably, he has begun to realize that the incident presents him with the perfect opportunity to break free from his dead-end job. Sammy should not be seen as a hero, but rather as a young man who takes full advantage of an opportunity to break free from a life full of responsibilities that he desperately wants to leave.