Focus on Speech

Whenever John Updike has a character speak in his book, he almost always mentions how the phrase was said. He does this with each of the main witch characters, but especially with Jane Smart. In just the first 3 pages, he makes six references to the speech of the women speaking. When Updike makes a reference to Jane's voice, he often compares her to darker things. For example, he says:
- "'And oh yes,' Jane Smart said in her hasty yet purposeful way; each s seemed the black tip of a just extinguished match held in playful hurt, as children do, against the skin."
- "...the last syllable almost barked, its r dropped in Massachusetts style."
- "...Jane said swiftly, her s's chastening."
- "Her voice bristled like a black cat's fur, iridescent."
- "...pressing the ncs hard into Alexandra's ear."
These are all examples where Updike puts emphasis on the pronounciation of Jane's dialogue. When he mentions her speech ethics, he always compares them to more somber images, including a black cat and a burnt match on a child's skin.
I think these descriptions of her speech are meant to represent her personality early in the book, foreshadowing her persona before the readers really get to know her.