Everyone has different opinions, different beliefs, different styles; no two people are exactly alike. So it should be acceptable to do things differently and not be judged for it, right? Wrong.
In A&P, Sammy is working in the store, when three girls come in. By society's standards, these girls are inappropriately dressed. The girls are kicked out of the store. Sammy witnesses the scene and becomes confused and upset, resulting in Sammy quitting his job. In the end of the story, Sammy has an epiphany, and realizes that life will become more difficult for him.
Sammy's epiphany is that just because people believe differently or think differently, doesn't mean they will get treated the same as those who "respect" society's rules. This is a subtle yet strong realization for the audience as well. As children, we are taught to be original, to be ourselves, but we are somehow molded to the standards and expectations of those around us. We are desensitized to society's expectations, and until there are enough epiphanies like Sammy's, society and its rules will continue to decide how people are molded and treated.
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