Can Sammy's decision to quit be seen as a positive one?(Explain how it might be interpreted as a gesture to break with conformity, to be...

Sammy's act of quitting in John Updike's "A &
P" is an affirmation of his individuality.  What has most impressed him about the girls
after he has been physically attracted to Queenie, who is "more than pretty," is the
aplomb that Queenie especially exhibits.  Influenced by her display of courage and
self-confidence when she retorts to Lengel's accusation, "We are decent," Sammy desires
to impress her by emulating her.  At the same time, however, Sammy evaluates Lengel's
words about the policy of having their shoulders
covered:

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That's policy for you.  Policy is what the
kingpins want.  What the others want is juvenile
delinquency.

Thus, at the
tender age of nineteen, Sammy realizes how many people are "sheep," and how many are
intimidated by any confrontation whether they are involved or not. As he watches the
customers knock against each other, "like scared pigs in a chute," scurrying to check
out after Lengel's confrontation with them, he makes up his mind to quit. So,
while quitting may not be a wise decision on Sammy's part, his act is certainly an
authentic one.  It is, indeed, a declaration of a thinking mind, not that of a "sheep."
Moreover, while Sammy is unwilling to make the comprise that is needed in order to
navigate in the adult world, he has at least made an existentially authentic act of
individuality--a very positive move.