The Witches of Eastwick
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The Witches of Eastwick is a 1984 novel by John Updike.
Plot summary
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. Their coven is upset by the arrival of a devil-like character, Darryl Van Horne. The mysterious Darryl seduces each of the women, encouraging them to play with their powers and creating a scandal in the town. The three women share Darryl in relative peace until he unexpectedly marries their young, innocent friend, Jenny, whom they resolve to have revenge on by giving her cancer through their magic. The witches doubt their judgment after Jenny's death when Darryl 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 they each summon their ideal men and leave town. The Widows of Eastwick, John Updike's sequel to The Witches of Eastwick, was published by Alfred A. Knopf in October 2008.
Literary significance and criticism
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.
At the same time, there were those who praised the novel as a departure from John Updike's previous novels. This is the first novel where he truly develops the female characters.
Film, television, and theatrical adaptations
- In 1987, the novel was adapted into a film starring Jack Nicholson as Darryl, Cher as Alexandra, Susan Sarandon as Jane, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Sukie.
- In 2000, the novel was adapted into a stage musical by John Dempsey and Dana P. Rowe.
- In 2002, a television series pilot was filmed based on the world created in the book, called simply Eastwick. It starred Marcia Cross as Jane, Kelly Rutherford as Alexandra, and Lori Loughlin as Sukie. It was not picked up as a series so only the pilot episode exists.
- In 2007, the stage musical had a sold-out American debut at the Signature Theater in Arlington, Virginia.
