John Updike's A&P?

Question

At the end of the story, it says "... and my stomach kind of fell as I felt how hard the world was going to be hereafter." What does this mean? Why would the world be hard for Sammy?

Answer 1

I think it just means that he realized that his big act accomplished nothing, and that doing what you think is right doesn't always work out in the end. He stood up for those girls and all it got him was unemployed; they didn't thank him, his manager didn't bow to his righteousness. It's his first realization that the world is not a perfect happy place.

Answer 2

what does he mean