The most obvious precedent for Updike's story is the historical record in New England. Living in Massachusetts for most of his adult life, Updike has frequently turned to the lore of the region for subject matter in stories and novels. He has also indicated on more than one occasion the significance he finds in the Puritan legacy of modern America, especially with respect to attitudes about religion and sexuality, two themes which predominate The Witches of Eastwick. Unquestionably, there are thematic parallels between this novel and one considered among the greatest American classics, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter (1850; see separate entry). Parallels with other works in this tradition may also be found, such as Arthur Miller's The Crucible (1953), but it would be unwise to speculate that Updike was directly influenced by such writings.

On the other hand, The Witches of Eastwick is a part of a...