This article is about the John Updike novel. For other uses, see The Witches of Eastwick (disambiguation).
【Plot】The story, set in the fictional Rhode Island town of Eastwick in the late 1960s, follows the witches Alexandra Spofford, Jane Smart, and Sukie Rougemont, who acquired their powers after leaving or being left by their husbands (although Alexandra is a widow). Their coven is upset by the arrival of a devil-like character, Daryl Van Horne. The mysterious Daryl seduces each of the women, encouraging them to play with their powers and creating a scandal in the town.
The three women share Daryl in relative peace until he unexpectedly marries their young, innocent friend, Jenny, on whom they resolve to have revenge by giving her cancer through their magic. The witches doubt their judgment after Jenny's death when Daryl flees town with her younger brother, Chris, apparently his lover. In his wake, he leaves their relationships strained and their sense of self in doubt. Eventually, each summons her ideal man and leaves town.
【Literary significance and criticism】
Updike described his novel as "about female power, a power that patriarchal societies have denied." Many scholars viewed it as strongly pro-feminist, "an intelligent engagement with feminism, and a rare case of a male novelist writing from women's points of view." ［1］ Some have expressed concern that the book may be misogynistic, as it seems to reinforce the patriarchal conceptions of women as witches and of women requiring a man for personal growth; others believe that the book may be more of a satire of such ideas.［2］
At the same time, there were those who praised the novel as a departure from John Updike's previous novels.
Note: all from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witches_of_Eastwick
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