Essay - Comparison of Struggle Against 'Authority' in Updike's 'A & P'...

Comparison Of Struggle Against 'Authority' In Updike's "A & P" and Baxter's "Gryphon"

*****" is a story about a young man who, in what appears to be an impulsive movement driven by primeval instincts, turns his back on a secure way of life. On the surface, Sammy's actions seem entirely driven ***** ***** need ***** impress Queenie ********** her friends. But there are enough cues to indicate that Sammy was already feeling repressed in a way of life that had been 'ordered' for him. Take for instance, Sammy's imagination wandering ***** the kind of parties Queenie's mo*****r must host. His desire to experience more ***** ***** is well symbolized by his final action of untying his apron strings, though he realizes:"...how hard t***** world is going ***** be to me...."

Gryphon," on the other hand, is a story about both an adult and a child rebelling against the establ*****hed societal and instituti*****al order of thinking. Miss Ferenczi goes against the norms of prescribed teaching to teach ***** children about magic, love, life and God. Her unusual methods prove invaluable to Tommy, as illustrated ***** ***** delight when he looks up 'Gryphon' in t***** dictionary:"...there really is such a cre*****ture." Tommy ga*****s from the experience as M*****s Ferenczi *****es him the value of thinking ***** himself though she, herself, pays a price as she is removed from the school after a child complains.

The stark difference between Sammy's struggle and that ***** Miss Ferenczi and Tommy is that the former ***** driven by instinct where***** the latter is characterized by a strong meaningful