The life we ​​live today includes many moral aspects that would not have been socially acceptable fifty or more years ago. John Updike's short story, A&P, addresses these themes of social change through the point of view of a 1960s teenager. This teenager, Sammy, spends much of his time working at a local supermarket, watching the customers and imagining where his life's adventures will take him. Through symbolism and setting, Updike establishes characters and conflicts; these, in turn, cause Sammy to evolve from an observant, ignorant teenager, who promotes opposition to changing social rules, into an adult who must face reality. This story, first published in 1961, stirs controversy and continues to be debated today. Although Updike intends his writing to be simple and entertaining, he also includes literary and cultural knowledge of the time period for readers to analyze more deeply (Saldivar N. pag.). As with A&P, Updike injects religious faith, something few non-Catholic writers attempted in this period, in a seemingly effortless manner. The A&P supermarket, the main setting of the story, was located “right in the center of town” (Updike 983); a privileged position accessible to all, even if generally this position was reserved for the city's place of worship. In a way, Updike implanted this detail to be ironic. The supermarket in his story represented a “temple of modern consumerism” and was replacing a temple of worship (Wells N. pag.). Creating a story that was relevant to the 1960s, but still encompassed the problems society currently faces, demonstrates Updike's genius ability to engage with the fascinating world around him. The story begins with Sammy, the narrator, working at the local A&P supermarket. He doesn't...... middle of paper......, 1994. Literature Resource Center. Network. April 15, 2012.• Porter, M. Gilbert. "John Updike's 'A & P': The Establishment and an Emerging Teller." English Journal 61 (November 1972): 1155-1158. Rpt. in Criticism of short stories. Ed. Anna J. Fogli. vol. 27. Detroit: Gale Research, 1998. Literature Resource Center. Network. 15 April 2012.• Saldivar, Toni. “The Art Of “A & P” by John Updike. Studies In Short Fiction 34.2 (1997): 215. Academic Search Premier. Web. April 14, 2012. • Thompson, Corey Evan. “Updike's A & P.” Explicator 59.4 ( 2001): 215. Academic Research Premier. April 14, 2012. • Updike, John “Thinking and Writing about Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. Print.• Wells, Walter. “John Updike’s “A&P”: A Return To Araby.” Studies In Short Fiction 30.2 (1993): 127. Academic Search Premier. 2012.