Wickedness was like food: once you got started it was hard to stop; the gut expanded to take in more and more

Wickedness was like food: once you got started it was hard to stop; the gut expanded to take in more and more

John Updike was a master at exploring the complexities of human nature, often delving into the darker aspects of the human psyche. In his works, he frequently examined the idea that wickedness can be all-consuming, much like food. The quote, “Wickedness was like food: once you got started it was hard to stop; the gut expanded to take in more and more,” perfectly encapsulates this theme.

In many of Updike’s stories, characters are often tempted by their own desires and impulses, leading them down a path of moral decay. Once they give in to these temptations, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to resist further acts of wickedness. Just as one bite of food can lead to another, the characters in Updike’s works find themselves spiraling deeper and deeper into a world of immorality.

One of Updike’s most famous works, “The Witches of Eastwick,” explores this idea in depth. The three main characters, Alexandra, Jane, and Sukie, are initially drawn together by their shared loneliness and desire for companionship. However, as they discover their supernatural powers and begin to indulge in their darkest fantasies, they find themselves consumed by their own wickedness. The more they give in to their desires, the more they crave, leading to a cycle of escalating depravity.