Critical analysis essay over The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike
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Course
Engels
Level
VWO / Gymnasium
Book
The Witches of Eastwick
A very comprehensive analysis essay at VWO level that expands John Updike's book The Witches of Eastwick and puts it in context by linking with the characters in the book, the writer and the society described. Includes reference list.
Critical analysis essay over The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike
Critical analysis essay over The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike
Critical analysis essay over The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike
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The Dream of Women in 1970
The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike was published in 1985, but the plot takes
place around 1970 “since this was during the Vietnam War” (p. 27, Updike, 1985).
The novel tells us a story about three witches who live in Eastwick, a small town in
America. These witches are Alexandra Spofford, Jane Smart and Sukie Rougemont.
They hold great power and are able to cast spells. Although the witches are single
and sleep with various married men. During 1970 in America a second wave of
feminism had gained a lot of attention in the country. This wave focused on
eliminating the patriarchy in America. Multiple aspects of this movement are
noticeable in The Witches of Eastwickbringing the theme in line with the movement of
the second feminism wave in America.
The feminists who were mostly representative in the second feminism wave,
as defined by Anand (2018), are similar to the women of The Witches of Eastwick.
Anand notes: “Prominent feminists were white middle-class women who wrote
feminist theory centred around their own experiences and troubles” (Anand, 2018)
The three protagonists of the novel are white women, belonging to the middle class,
who live in a small village in America. Alexandra, who is the oldest of the three, is 38
years old.
Throughout the plot we notice how these characters do whatever they please.
They use their powers to cast cruel spells upon other people who are interfering with
their desires. For example, the three witches desire Darryl van Horne. While each
seeking his attention the witches get into fights and grow jealous of each other. They
do not consider what Darryl wants himself. Eventually Darryl van Horne marries
another woman named Jenny, whom the . the witches then get rid of her by dooming
her with cancer (p. ##, Updike, 1985). This is but one example of how these women
are focused solely on their own gain.
Another example is when Alexandra is talking to Franny Lovecraft. Alexandra
explains how she got upset when talking to Franny, because it reminded her of how
she is aging. Alexandra sees in Franny her future self. She sees Franny as a
reflection of that which she does not want to see. In response, she gets angry and
trips Franny. “The old dame whose pearls let loose a minute ago tripped over her
own shoes in her excitement and everybody’s scared she broke her hip.” (p. 56,
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