Often times in literature for the protagonist to make progress a sacrifice has to be made. This sacrifice can spark progress in the movement of the story or growth in the character themselves. The true development in the story comes not in the sacrifice itself, but in the motives behind the characters actions. In both "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "A & P" the protagonist sacrifices something that has a profound impact on his life, but the results of their actions are vastly different.
<Tab/>John Updike develops Sammy, from his short story "A & P", in…
