Elaine has always had a fascination with witchcraft. From a young age, she was captivated by stories of powerful witches casting spells and making potions. It was not simply a passing interest for Elaine; it became a deep passion that shaped her life. As she grew older, Elaine delved deeper into the world of witchcraft. She studied books on magic, herbal remedies, and practiced various rituals and spells. She found the art of witchcraft to be not only intriguing but also empowering.
Persian Love Cakes
I was hoping to give you a brief synopsis of the theory but once I started writing my eyes watered and I had to have chocolate to recover from the shock. With her black hair, wigs, enormous false eyelashes, eye catching makeup, unbelievable wardrobe, killer body and sheer natural beauty she lives up to her reputation as the love witch.
She found the art of witchcraft to be not only intriguing but also empowering. Through connecting with nature and harnessing her own inner powers, Elaine felt a strong sense of self and purpose. One aspect of witchcraft that Elaine particularly adores is the use of herbs and plants.
[Editorial] Hearts of Darkness: A Love Letter to Elaine in The Love Witch (2016)
The Love Witch (2016) herself, Elaine Parks (Samantha Robinson) is a woman on a mission–to get her man. She doesn’t know who exactly he is yet, but he’s out there, waiting to shower her with the love she deserves to receive and that was withheld by her (dead) ex-husband, Jerry (Stephen Wozniak). She tries in vain to convince those around her that she knows just how to get him, facing skepticism from non-witches like Trish (Laura Waddell) and warnings from fellow witches like Barbara (Jennifer Ingrum). The three of swords tarot card, an omen of heartbreak and emotional turmoil, follows Elaine through the film, as spells and potions repeatedly fail to bring her dream man into her arms.
Trapped in a mindset between feminism and traditionalism, Elaine views men as weak and easy to manipulate, only needing something as simple as sex to gain their love; yet, she feels meaningless without a man in her life. On her own, Elaine is capable, calculating and independent, but puts on a facade of being a submissive “dream girl” to the men she encounters through the film. First, Wayne (Jeffrey Vincent Parise), a professor at the local college, whom she grows disgusted with for his being too emotional–too much like a woman. Then Richard (Robert Seeley), Trish’s husband, whom she seduces while her friend is out of town, before cutting off the affair because he’s too clingy. Finally, she meets Griff (Gian Keys), a detective assigned to investigate the mysterious death of Wayne, which happens under Elaine’s watch and initially goes unreported. Griff is the only one of these men whom Elaine doesn’t use magic on to seduce. She is thrilled when their relationship quickly becomes more serious and the two become engaged in a matter of weeks. It doesn’t take long, however, for Griff to see through Elaine’s ploy, and when he rejects a potion she offers him, she stabs him through the heart, bringing the three of swords tarot card to fruition.
Elaine laments that men in her- life like her father and her ex-husband Jerry- told her that she was never good enough, with their insults and criticisms running through her mind—that she weighed too much, was a bad cook, didn’t clean the house well enough. She claims she was devoted to Jerry and devastated by their divorce, which drove her to her transformation as a witch and to alter her appearance. While he was impressed, this ultimately didn’t win back him or his love. It’s also implied that Elaine has experienced ritual abuse at the hands of Gahan (Jared Sanford), the leader of the coven that she and Barbara are members of, as she expresses disgust and discomfort whenever she’s around him.
The abuses she’s experienced leave her in a state akin to Frankenstein’s monster, not forged of her own will, but of the entitlement of the men around her, torn apart and then put back together as a perverse monument to politicized sexuality and idealized womanhood, unleashed to wreak havoc on the sleepy town in the California Redwoods where she makes her home. She claims that by becoming an ideal woman, she doesn’t give men a reason to abuse or take advantage of her. Elaine believes she can use her sexuality to maintain power in the relationship while also finding someone to love her for her personality.
The empathy and care that she shows the men she seduces is superficial, as she doesn’t want to deal with their emotions, she just wants them to pay attention to her. When Wayne is under the influence of Elaine’s spell, he cries and moans uncontrollably at how much he “loves” her and misses her when she’s just a room away. In a striking display of apathy and disdain, Elaine smokes on the living room couch, annoyed with Wayne’s behavior. His sobs providing background noise to her thoughts, she shares with the viewer, “No one was ever there for me when I was crying my heart out. No one ever comforted me. No one.” Elaine is ruthless, with little patience for anything less than perfection from her partner, something she no doubt learned from her past partners.
When Griff accuses Elaine of being a hypocrite and that no one’s love will ever be enough for her, she becomes enraged. It’s here that Elaine reveals her true thoughts about men and their capacity to love, that they make it conditional and difficult to obtain, superficial and fleeting as they only care about sex and appearances, even for a woman as perfect as she is. Elaine thinks that every woman deserves love but because men are selfish, women feel lonely and dissatisfied. She needs to use magic to unlock men’s “love potential” but because they’re so unfamiliar with love, it overwhelms them to the point of death. It’s no fault of her own.
The Love Witch is a film that warrants multiple viewings due to Elaine’s complexities and her being an unreliable narrator. Initial viewings of the film dazzle visually, from the technicolor set designs to Elaine’s impeccable fashion sense, yet the plot and Elaine’s motivations require extra attention from viewers, making The Love Witch a “love it or hate it” film for many. It can be difficult to sympathize with Elaine despite her troubled past; she inadvertently and directly causes four deaths and has an affair with her friend’s husband without feeling remorse for any of it. Elaine is a caricature of the crossroads where many modern women feel they find themselves. As she tries to squeeze herself into the molds, she believes she should fill, her results are nothing but failures. Her dangerous obsession with love and equating sex to power leads her down a potion-soaked path of destruction, turning her fairytale into a nightmare.
The Love Witch is one of only a couple of films that focusses on non-magical human witches. Elaine joins a witches coven in San Fransisco after her husband leaves her. Here she learns about sex magic and love spells. Using herbs, spells and the power of her awesome body, Elaine seduces man after man hoping to find true love. You see Elaine loves love, she’s addicted to love and wants nothing more than to be loved. She is obsessive and narcissistic. She uses all her witchy craft to try to find a patriarchal relationship where she cooks for her man and rewards him with mind-blowing sex. Sadly her use of love magic leads to nothing but disappointment, tragedy and death. Elaine is a witch who will definitely love you to death.
She believes that nature is abundant in healing properties, and she spends hours foraging for different plants and learning about their medicinal qualities. Elaine enjoys creating potent potions and remedies that have the power to heal ailments and restore balance. Furthermore, Elaine finds solace in the spiritual aspects of witchcraft. She believes in the power of intentions, affirmations, and visualization. Through meditation and spellcraft, Elaine taps into her inner desires and manifests them into reality. She finds this practice to be immensely empowering and fulfilling. Elaine's adoration for witchcraft extends beyond her personal practice. She has become an active member of the witchcraft community and is always eager to share her knowledge and experiences. Through online forums and local gatherings, Elaine has found a sense of belonging with like-minded individuals who share her love for witchcraft. She enjoys engaging in discussions, exchanging ideas, and learning from others. In conclusion, Elaine's adoration for witchcraft runs deep. It has become an integral part of her life, bringing her joy, healing, and a sense of purpose. Through her studies, practices, and community engagement, Elaine continues to explore and celebrate the ancient art of witchcraft..
Reviews for "The Modern Witch: Elaine's Perspective on Witchcraft in the 21st Century"
1. John - 2/5 - I did not enjoy "Elaine adores witchcraft" at all. The story felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction. The characters were one-dimensional and their motivations were not well-developed. Additionally, the writing style was difficult to follow, with long and convoluted sentences that made it hard to understand the narrative. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - "Elaine adores witchcraft" was a complete disappointment for me. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, offering no surprises or twists. The main character, Elaine, was portrayed as a stereotypical witch, with no depth or complexity to her personality. The dialogue was poorly written, lacking authenticity and often sounding forced. I found myself getting bored and frustrated with the story, as it failed to engage me on any level. I wouldn't waste my time reading this book again.
3. Michael - 2/5 - "Elaine adores witchcraft" fell short of my expectations. The pacing was sluggish, with long stretches of unnecessary descriptions that did not add to the story. The world-building was lackluster, failing to create a vivid and immersive setting. Furthermore, the book's attempts at humor fell flat, with jokes that felt forced and unnatural. While the concept of witchcraft initially intrigued me, the execution left much to be desired. I found myself struggling to stay interested throughout the book and was ultimately left unsatisfied.
4. Emma - 2/5 - I was not impressed with "Elaine adores witchcraft". The writing style was dry and lacked creativity, failing to captivate my attention. The plot was predictable and lacked depth, making it difficult to feel invested in the story. The characters felt cliche and poorly developed, with their actions sometimes feeling inconsistent and unrealistic. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed by this book and would recommend looking elsewhere for a more engaging read.