The Witches of Eastwick, John Updike

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nfocuses on one of the subjects which most interests him as a chronicler of modern American life: the changing status of men and women in society. His three female protagonists struggle to establish themselves within a small-town community which is at best begrudgingly tolerant, and at its worst openly hostile, to their unconventional lifestyles. However, Updike gives these women a decided advantage over their opponents; all three have supernatural powers, enabling them to manipulate nature and other people. All once-married but now on their own, they suffer the opprobrium of their fellow townspeople because they try to make their way as mothers and breadwinners without the support of a husband. Their struggle indicates that, despite the movement in America toward acceptance of alternative lifestyles, the majority of Americans in small towns are not particularly accepting of women who flaunt...