Worth the price: Sarah as hero in John Updike's "S."

Sarah Price Worth is a hero in mythical and psychological terms. Her growth can be traced through her name changes within the novel: Sarah Price Worth/Kundalini/Rare Sarah. She leaves the Judeo-Christian belief system and enters an Eastern system in an ashram where yoga is practiced. Sarah's progress can be seen in terms of the stages of the heroic quest and archetypal imagery--in particular, the snake. The novel's action suggests a parallel between chakra ascension and psychological growth in Jungian terms. Updike's "yes, but" tendency is at work in this novel: Yes, Sarah Price Worth is a bitch. But she is, nonetheless, a hero. As Sarah Price Worth and Kundalini, she has allowed men to be her gods, but Rare Sarah finds her own way. Through her earnest seeking, she succeeds in her quest.