the myth of individual freedom reflected in the novel “the devil wears

Transcription

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THE MYTH OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM REFLECTED IN
THE NOVEL “THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA”
THESIS
Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the Sarjana Degree in English Department
Faculty of Letters and Fine Arts, Sebelas Maret University
Written by:
YUNINDAR RETNO PUTRI
C 0304059
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS AND FINE ARTS
SEBELAS MARET UNIVERSITY
SURAKARTA
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2011
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PRONOUNCEMENT
Name
: Yunindar Retno Putri
Student Number : C 0304059
I declare that the thesis entitled “The Myth of Individual
Freedom Reflected In The Novel “The Devil Wears Prada” is my
own work. It is not the result of plagiarism.
I accept willingly any academic consequences including the
withdrawal of the academic title when the declaration is proved
incorrect.
Surakarta, 1 April 2011
The researcher,
YUNINDAR RETNO PUTRI
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MOTTO
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the
proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
(Galatians 6:9)
It’s done be good for you to finish something once in
your life, don’t give up!
(The movie “Julie and Julia”)
Family got first
(The movie “Click”)
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DEDICATION
I dedicate this thesis to:
My father alm.Yohanes Chrisostomus Suratno
My mother Fransisca Erna Dwi Hastuti
My beloved sister Elisabet Erdina Irawati
Myself
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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First of all, I would like to thank God Almighty, Jesus Christ and Mother
Mary for the guidance and blessing so that I can finish the thesis.
I thank Drs. Sudarno, M.A., Dean of Faculty of Letters and Fine Arts, and
Dr. Djatmika, M.A., Head of English Department for the motivations and all of
English Department lecturers for helping me enrich my knowledge in speaking, listening,
reading and writing in English, giving me a lot of knowledge and understanding of
western culture especially American Studies.
I am heartily thankful to the thesis advisor, Fitria Akhmerti Primasita, S.S, M.A.,
whose encouragement, help and support enable me to get a further understanding of the
subject and finally finish the thesis. Thank you for being a very patient advisor. Thank
you for all of the knowledge and advices have been given.
My endless gratitude goes to my Mom and my Dad for their tremendous
support and prays. Especially for my Dad, it is always a great experience to be
your daughter, you had taught me a lot how to live this life, love you Daddy. I
also thank to my older sister Ira, can’t wait to go to Jakarta with you! And my
gratitude to Bulik Wiwin, Om Gatot, Bulik Yani, Om Tugiman, Bulik Tyah, Om
Yatno, Om Sri, Bulik Sri, Om Domo, Bulik Irma, Om Dar, Bulik Titik, Bude
Nardi, Bude and Pakde Tarjo for their support and understanding that it took too
long for me to finish the thesis. Eyang and Bude Eni, Mbak Laura and her kids;
Sila and Tian, for their cute smile and action that always make me happy.
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I thank to Indah, Beta and Mbak Iah for their genuine and sincere
friendship. Roos and Andre thanks for the question that always remind me to
finish the thesis. Gentlemen, mission accomplished!
My sincere gratitude to The Tumpulz: Uus, Fitra, Fikri, Yunus, Rudy,
Itok, Tantra, Tory for their support and especially thanks to Elin for the correction
of my grammatical error and all of the helps.
Thanks to the guys and the girls in American Studies Class of 2004, Afida, Ning,
Tutut, Ulil, Ika, Dhanang, Dony, etc. It is great working together with all of you. Thanks
to my friends from the class of 2004 of English Letters, Lidya, Tatan, Ficka, Maria, Fata,
Marta, Reny, Hilda, Rina, Natalia, Yuli, Nina T, Nina S, and the other great friends who I
can not mention one by one. It is so nice being a part of all of you.
Thanks to Mbak Dion for the support, to Novena for sharing the same experience
and feeling in doing my thesis and your TA.
Last but not least, I thank to everyone who has given great contribution to
this thesis whose name cannot mention here. This thesis cannot finish without all
of them. Thank you a lot.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE…………………………………………………………………………
i
APPROVAL OF THE ADVISOR………………………………….................
ii
APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS…………………………..
iii
PRONOUNCEMENT…………………………………………………………
iv
MOTTO…………………………………………………………….................
v
DEDICATION………………………………………………………………...
vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT…………………………………………….............
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………..
ix
ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………..
xi
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION……………………………………..............
A. Research Background…………………………………………
1
B. Scope of Study………………………………………………...
5
C. Research Question…………………………………………….
5
D. Objectives of the Study……………………………………….
5
E. Benefits of the Study………………………………………….
6
F. Research Methodology………………………………………..
6
G. Thesis Organization…………………………………………...
10
CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………………..
A. Structure of Novel ……………………………………………
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B. American Social Condition in the end of 20th Century and
15
early of 21st Century ……...............................................................
C. The American Myth of Individual Freedom …………………
21
CHAPTER III: ANALYSIS…………………………………………………..
How The Myth of Individual Freedom Reflected In The Novel
29
“The Devil Wears Prada”………………………………….
CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION……………...
A. Conclusion…………………………………………………….
71
B. Recommendation……………………………………………...
73
REFERENCES………………………………………………………………..
74
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ABSTRACT
Yunindar Retno Putri. C 034059. The Myth of Individual Freedom Reflected
In The Novel The Devil Wears Prada. Thesis. English Department of Faculty
of Letters and Fine Arts Sebelas Maret University.
The research was mainly aimed to answer how the novel The Devil Wears
Prada reflects the myth of individual freedom. The research was descriptive
qualitative research of which the source of main data was the novel The Devil
Wears Prada written by Lauren Weisberger. The main data of the research were
dialogues, narration, comments, expressions, opinions, and characterizations of
one main character; Andrea Sachs and one supporting character; Lily Goodwin
and other characters which supported the analysis. The supporting data were taken
from books and internet articles related to the novel which supported in answering
the research question.
The research was in the scope of American studies which is an
interdisciplinary study. In answering the research question, the researcher used
sociological and cultural approach. The research also provided the historical
background of the myth of individual freedom and the theory of structure of the
novel.
After conducting the analysis, it is found that the characters reflecting the
myth of individual freedom in the novel The Devil Wears Prada experience
transformation in their life. Andrea Sachs, who in the middle is portrayed to
challenge the mainstream society by becoming a career woman and ignoring her
family finally realizes that she is not the same as Miranda, her boss. She defends
her spirit of individual freedom and makes a choice in her life which tends to go
along with the mainstream society’s values. She ignores her life career in Runway
and goes back to her family. Lily Goodwin is also portrayed to challenge the
mainstream society in defending her spirit of individual freedom. As an alcoholic
her attitude is in contrast to the society’s values. However, in the end of the novel
she is portrayed following the mainstream society’s values, by having alcohol
counseling and rearranging her study. The myth of individual freedom encourages
American people to be free in doing anything to pursue their dreams. However,
the exercise of individual freedom often contradicts with another mainstream
belief and value. A harmonious community that the society wants to achieve often
makes the exercise of individual freedom contradict with the American
democracy. Nevertheless, the beliefs and values embraced by the society
eventually influence how a person should take an action upon this contradiction.
As the novel is a popular culture product, it is created based on the society’s
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beliefs and values.
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THE MYTH OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM REFLECTED IN
THE NOVEL “THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA”
Yunindar Retno Putri1
Fitria Akhmerti Primasita, S.S, M.A2
ABSTRACT
2011. Thesis. English Department of Faculty of Letters and Fine
Arts Sebelas Maret University.
The research was mainly aimed to answer how the novel The Devil
Wears Prada reflects the myth of individual freedom. The research
was descriptive qualitative research of which the source of main
data was the novel The Devil Wears Prada written by Lauren
Weisberger. The main data of the research were dialogues,
narration, comments, expressions, opinions, and characterizations
of one main character; Andrea Sachs and one supporting character;
Lily Goodwin and other characters which supported the analysis.
The supporting data were taken from books and internet articles
related to the novel which supported in answering the research
question.
The research was in the scope of American studies which is an
interdisciplinary study. In answering the research question, the
researcher used sociological and cultural approach. The research
also provided the historical background of the myth of individual
freedom and the theory of structure of the novel.
After conducting the analysis, it is found that the characters
reflecting the myth of individual freedom in the novel The Devil
Wears Prada experience transformation in their life. Andrea Sachs,
who in the middle is portrayed to challenge the mainstream society
by becoming a career woman and ignoring her family finally
realizes that she is not the same as Miranda, her boss. She defends
1
2
Mahasiswa Jurusan Sastra Inggris dengan NIM C0304059
Dosen Pembimbing
her spirit of individual freedom and makes a choice in her life
which tends to go along with the mainstream society’s values. She
ignores her life career in Runway and goes back to her family. Lily
Goodwin is also portrayed to challenge the mainstream society in
defending her spirit of individual freedom. As an alcoholic her
attitude is in contrast to the society’s values. However, in the end
of the novel she is portrayed following the mainstream society’s
values, by having alcohol counseling and rearranging her study.
The myth of individual freedom encourages American people to be
free in doing anything to pursue their dreams. However, the
exercise of individual freedom often contradicts with another
mainstream belief and value. A harmonious community that the
society wants to achieve often makes the exercise of individual
freedom contradict with the American democracy. Nevertheless,
the beliefs and values embraced by the society eventually influence
how a person should take an action upon this contradiction. As the
novel is a popular culture product, it is created based on the
society’s beliefs and values.
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Research Background
Each nation has its own characteristics. The certain characteristics are
usually used to generalize a typical of society in a nation. For example,
Indonesians are known for their hospitality, Japanese are known as a highly
sophisticated society, and Americans are known for their optimism. Besides,
Americans are also known for their characteristic which values individualism
quite highly (Stevenson, 1996: 126).
The spirit of individual freedom in American can be found since the very
beginning of the history of America up to now. The immigrants who came to
America have the same goal: freedom. The pilgrims came to America to get
freedom in religious belief. Others came to American to escape tyranny from their
nation, and they searched for freedom in aspects of their life which were not
fulfilled by their nation. They all came to America, the land of opportunity, to
achieve freedom and to have better life. Another example was the war between 13
colonies against British army. They fought for freedom from the oppression of the
British. The battle brought them independence, declared them as a free state, a
new nation. This event is the root that shapes the individual freedom
characterization in United States. Americans believe and keep the spirit of
individual freedom for many centuries. The concept of individual freedom that
has settled in the mindset of the Americans always encourages them to be free
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from control. They want to control their own life without preference from
anything or anyone such as government or society. American myth of individual
freedom states that everybody has to get freedom form all tights and pressure to
choose his or her own happiness. Jack Nachbar and Kevin Lause in Popular
Culture: An Introdctory Text (1992) stated:
Americans have an innate right to personal freedom- the right to
choose their own destines, pursue their dreams, act in any way they
see fit of short of harming others of interfering with others‟
freedom. (Nachbar and Lause, 1992: 94)
The condition is much reflected in many American movies, popular
magazines, or literary works. In American popular culture they are called as
products of popular culture. The products of popular culture reflect the myths,
beliefs and values of American society. One of the products of popular culture, in
the form of literary work is a novel entitled “The Devil Wears Prada” (TDWP,
2003). The novel much reflects the American myth of individual freedom. The
Devil Wears Prada (2003) is a chick lit novel; a genre of fiction targeted to and
written
by
or
about
young
and
sophistichated
women
(www.msn.com/dictionary_chicklit). It was written by Lauren Weisberger. It was
a best selling novel and it was very successfully spending six months on the New
York Times bestseller list. It has been published in 27 countries. The novel also
becomes the basis for a successful eponymous film with the same title “Devil
Wears Prada” starred by Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt.
The novel is about choice of life, individual freedom, and how a person
gets happiness in their life. It expresses the myth of individual freedom not only in
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one of its main characters, Andrea Sachs, but also in one of its supporting
characters, Lily Goodwin. Andrea‟s embodiments of the myth can be seen in her
young life, the period when she worked at Runway, her relationship with her
roommates, Shanti and Kendra, her relationship with her best friend, Lily, her
relationship with her boyfriend, Alex and her relationship with her family. While
Lily‟s embodiment of the myth, can be seen in her relationship with best friend,
Andrea, her style, her lifestyle and her relationship with her study.
These two young women came to New York to pursue their dreams.
Andrea wanted to be a journalist in The New Yorker and Lily wanted to get Ph.D
title in Russian literature. Andrea Sachs started her career working at Runway,
fashion magazine. After graduating from college, she was hired as a personal
assistant of Miranda Priestley, an editor of a powerful Runway. Andrea was told
repeatedly that millions of girls would die for her job and if she can manage to
work well for Miranda for a year she can choose any jobs within the magazine
industry. It means that if she can survive in Runway for a year she will have a path
to work in The New Yorker. She works hard to fulfill Miranda‟s needs and be
professional in her job. Her loyalty to Miranda and her progress in work make her
relationship with her closest persons begin to suffer including her relationship
with Lily. Andrea became very busy with her job so that she did not realize that
Lily was in trouble with her habit of drinking. Lily struggled with her study and
had to pay it by herself. Getting overwhelmed with her life, Lily sometimes
smoked and even drank. She was addicted to alcohol and caused her into a drink
driving which put her in a serious accident.
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The conflict got peaking when Andrea joined Miranda at Paris fashion
show. She was told that Lily was in comma because of an accident and Miranda
asked her to renew her twin daughter‟s expired passport. Andrea‟s family and her
boyfriend kept questioning her when she would be back. Thinking about her
bestfriend‟s condition and how she could accommodate her boss‟ impossible
demand made her very frustrated. The twin‟s passport incident then made her
realize that it was enough for Miranda to always plan what she wanted to do.
Andrea realized that working as Miranda‟s assistants made her lose her freedom
as an individual. She could not do something for her own happiness; she always
did something for the sake of Miranda‟s want. Finally she realized that her family
and friends were much more important than her job. Andrea decided to come
home. She ignored Miranda‟s command and swore her publicly. She was fired but
one thing made she feel better was that she was coming home. After being fired
from her previous job, Andrea worked on short fiction and finally Seventeen, a
teenage magazine bought one of her stories. Andrea felt happy, though it was not
The New Yorker but it was a good first step for her career. Beside her career
going fine, her relationship with Lily also went well. Lily decided to stay in
Andrea‟s home to recover her habit of drinking while thinking to continue her
study (www.curledup.com/prada.htm).
Lauren Weisberger once worked as an assistant to Anna Wintour at Vogue
magazine. Many people think that Anna Wintour is the inspiration for the
character Miranda Priestley in TDWP, but she denies it. However, the novel TDWP
portrays much the American values. It is about the individual freedom; how to
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make a choice of life without pressure from anyone. Such as movie that reflects
the social phenomenon of life, beliefs and values of a society, through a literary
work we can also learn about a society since a literary work is an expression and
hopes of the author toward his or her society. Since the novel The Devil Wears
Prada reflects the American myth of individual freedom, the researcher was
interested in analyzing it.
B. Scope of Study
To limit the discussion of the research, the researcher emphasized and
focused on describing and analyzing the American myth of individual freedom in
the novel The Devil Wears Prada (2003). The researcher also focused on one
main character, Andrea Sachs and one supporting character, Lily Goodwin
without ignoring other characters that support the analysis.
C. Research Question
How is American myth of individual freedom reflected in the novel The
Devil Wears Prada?
D. The Objective of Study
To describe how American myth of individual freedom is reflected in the
novel The Devil Wears Prada.
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E. The Benefits of the Research
This research was done to give a contribution to the readers, especially the
American studies students, in achieving a better understanding about American
society which values individualism quiet highly.
F. The Research Methodology
1. The Type of the Research
The type of the research was descriptive qualitative research, which
means answering the research question by describing and analyzing the answer.
Qualitative data consist of detailed descriptions of situations, events,
people, interactions, and observed behaviours; direct quotations from
people about their experiences, attitudes, belief, and thoughts; and
excerpts or entire passages from documents, correspondences,
records, and case histories. (Patton, 1984: 22)
Qualitative research involves the data that has been mentioned above. Qualitative
research is not only about collecting and composing the data that are related to the
research question but also analyzing and interpreting the data so that the
description can be more comprehensive.
2. Data and Source of Data
a. Source of Data
The main source of data used in this research was the novel The
Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger. The novel was published by Anchor
Books in 2003. The supporting data used in this research were taken from other
sources such as books, essays, and internet websites that could support the
analysis.
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b. Data
The main data used in this research were dialogues, narration, comments,
expressions, opinions, and characterizations of one main character; Andrea Sachs
and one supporting character; Lily Goodwin and other characters which supported
the analysis. The supporting data used in this research were in the form of
information, comments, and opinions that supported the analysis.
3. Technique of Collecting Data and Analyzing Data
The researcher gained the data by doing a close reading activity to the
novel The Devil Wears Prada (2003) by Lauren Weisberger as the source of main
data and other sources as the sources of supporting data. Both data that were
related to the subject of the research were collected. Then the data were analyzed
by using some theories. The last step was drawing conclusion.
4. Theoretical Approach
The research was conducted within the boundary of American studies
which used interdisciplinary approach. Therefore this study employed some
approaches that were suitable to the subject matter to answer the research
question. In this research the researcher employed sociological approach and
cultural approach.
a. Sociological Approach
Literary work always represents and deals with social life by the time the
literary work is made. Using language as its medium, an author transfers the
condition happens in society. Thus literary works are often called as an imitation
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of life. Besides transferring the society‟s condition, an author also tries to
transform her society by adding her imagination into her work. As Rene Wellek
and Austin Warren stated:
Literature is a social institution, using as its medium language, a
social creation. Such traditional literary devices as symbolism and
metre are social in their very nature. They are conventions and
norms which could have arisen only in society. But furthermore,
literature „represents‟ life and „life‟ is, in large measure, a social
reality, even tough the natural world and the inner or subjective
world of the individual also been objects of literary imitation
(Wellek and Warren, 1977: 94).
Applying the sociological approach helped the researcher to explain about the
American social condition described in the novel and finally could help the
researcher in answering the research question.
b. Cultural Approach
Culture refers to all the things in our daily life. The object of study in
cultural studies is not culture defined in the narrow sense, as the object of
aesthetic excellence but culture understood as texts and practices of everyday life.
Popular culture is one of the objects of discussion in cultural studies (Storey,
1996: 2).
Popular culture refers to the product of human work and thought. It
surrounds us and it reflects as well as shapes the society‟s beliefs and values. The
novel The Devil Wears Prada 2006 is a cultural product which reflects beliefs and
values. By understanding the novel The Devil Wears Prada 2006 as a cultural
product, the researcher can study the cultural myth, beliefs, and values. In
analyzing the novel The Devil Wears Prada as a cultural product, the researcher
used the popular formula theory by Jack Nachbar and Kevin Lause.
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Popular culture tells us what we are now, what we have been in the past
and where the two overlap to define what we may always be. Popular culture can
become the key to formulating definitions of a spirit of era (Nachbar and Lause,
1992: 4-5). When a product of popular culture is popular at a certain time, it also
reflects what happens in the society. Literary work is one of the products of
popular culture. Through the product of popular culture we may study about the
beliefs and values of society. As the formula of popular culture, the more popular
a product of popular culture, the more it reflects the myth, belief and values of
society (Nachbar and Lause, 1992: 5).
In the house of popular culture, myth lies on the basement. It becomes the
base where everything starts. It has the characteristics of strong, stable, significant
and longstanding. Myth reflects the beliefs and values and it forms the cultural
mindset. “Myth says nothing about „truth‟ or „falsity‟ of any belief or value; it
says that the belief or value is significant and long lasting-vital to mindset of the
culture, which holds it-and that is widely accepted as being true (Nachbar and
Lause, 1992: 84)” . Myth is believed and accepted to be true. The myth is usually
passed down from one generation to the next generation. One of the myths in
America is myth of individual freedom. The American myth of individual
freedom can be found in the very beginning of the history of this country up to
now. It means that the myth exists in America and it is stable in the society. Thus
by applying the popular formula theory in which the theory of myth is included,
the researcher could describe the myth of individual freedom that is reflected in
the novel.
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Since the research used literary work as source of data, structural point of
view cannot be omitted in this analysis. Structural point of view was used in this
analysis only as a way to get a deeper comprehension about what the literary work
tells about; not in the case to find the aesthetic value of the novel.
Historical background was applied in this research. The novel reflects the
characteristics of Americans and the social condition in United States. What have
shaped the characteristics of Americans and what happens in the society at the
present time always relates to the events happened in the past. As stated by Jack
Nachbar and Kevin Lause, all of the American myths have grown out of very real
historical events (1992; 85). The American myth of individual freedom stems
from the struggling of the 13 colonies fought against British army to reach their
independence. The myth has settled in the mindset of the Americans and they
have believed it up to now. It is certain that what happens at the present time
always relates to the events happened in the past. Thus to understand the condition
at the present time we need to have knowledge of the past. Exploring the history
of certain events might help the researcher to understand the beliefs and values
reflected in the novel and eventually helped the researcher to answer the research
question.
G. Thesis Organization
This thesis consists of four chapters. The first chapter is Introduction
which consists of research background, scope of study, research question, the
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objective of the research, the benefits of the research, the research methodology
and thesis organization
Chapter II is Literature Review. In this chapter, the researcher discusses
the structure of novel, the social condition of American society in the late of
twentieth century, and the American myth of individual freedom.
Chapter III consists of the analysis of the data and the answer to the
research question.
In chapter IV the researcher draws conclusion and gives suggestion or
recommendation about the subject matter discussed.
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CHAPTER II
LITERATURE REVIEW
A. Structure of Novel
Literary work is an imitation of life, in which the authors put their ideas
and their view into it. The authors usually portray certain moral value of society,
social life condition, critics and hopes toward a social condition of a society in
their work; it can be in the form of novel, poetry and play. Besides receiving
knowledge, a reader may get amusement in reading a literary work. As William
Kenney states that enjoyment is what most of the readers seek in reading fiction,
and in order to get the fullest possible measure of enjoyment an analysis of fiction
is needed. Analyzing a literary work means identifying the separate parts that
make it up, determining the relationship among the parts, and discovering the
relation of the parts to the whole. The aim of the analysis is to get the
understanding of the literary work as a unified and complex whole (Kenney,
1966: 5-6). A literary work consists of many internal elements such as plot,
characters, setting, point of view, style and tone, structure and technique, and
theme. This structure of literary work should reveal the theme. According to
Goldman in Faruk the focus in revealing the theme is the relation between the
characters and what surrounds them (Faruk, 2003: 17). This thesis focuses on
describing the myth of individual freedom reflected in the one main character and
one supporting character in the novel The Devil Wears Prada. Therefore the
internal elements of literary work that is emphasized in this thesis are characters,
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plot, setting and theme.
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1. PLOT
Plot is the sequence of events which have cause and effect relationship.
“By plot in fiction, then, we mean not simply the events recounted in the story but
the author’s arrangement of those events according to their causal relationship”
(Kenney, 1966: 14). From the plot the reader may know how the story goes from
the beginning until the end. Through plot an author organizes the raw of material
of experience. The meaning of experience is closely related to the readers’
understanding of what causes what, and plot must clarify causal relationship. An
understanding of plot is the most important factor in the understanding of fiction;
it helps the readers to recognize the meaning of the story (Kenney, 1966: 23).
Plot is divided into three parts; they are the beginning, the middle, and the
end. In the beginning the readers are provided with a certain amount of
information such as characters, setting, and rising of problems. The middle
provides conflict of the characters, complication, and climax. Complication is the
movement from the initial statement of conflict to the climax. The climax is
reached when the complication attains its highest point of intensity. The end
consists of everything from the climax to the denouement, or outcome of the
story. It shows how the problems of the characters are solved (Kenney, 1966: 1419).
2. CHARACTER
As well as plot, characters in a fiction are also artificial. They are made by
the author in relation to the story as a whole. Besides that the characters made in a
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fiction are used as a mean to deliver the value or moral teaching of the story “Jika
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kita membaca sebuah novel, bagian paling penting yang harus dilakukan ialah
usaha
untuk
mencari
nilai
yang
disuguhkan
pengarang
pada
setiap
tokoh”(Rahmanto, 1988: 71).
Character and characterization are very important in a novel. The author’s
creativity in making characters and characterization becomes the appeal of a
novel. In characterization, the author gives description about the characters in a
novel. Through the characterization, the readers are shown with various type of
characters and theirs problem.
Sebuah novel tanpa perwatakan nyaris mustahil. Daya tarik sebuah
novel terpancar lewat imajinasi kreatif si pengarang. Lewat imajinasi
pengarang itulah, pembaca dapat berkenalan dengan sejumlah variasi
tipe manusia berikut masalahnya (Rahmanto, 1988: 71).
The readers of novel are usually interested in understanding the
description of characterizations made by the author. The characterizations are
usually portrayed into two opposite type; the good one and the bad one. The
categorization which is based on the level of the goodness and the badness is the
author’s way to show to the readers that nobody is perfect ( ibid).
3. SETTING
Setting in a fiction explains about the place and the time of events. As
Kenney stated that setting reveals the where and when of events (Kenney, 1966:
39). Setting also relates to the geographic condition, history, social condition,
politics and even the background knowledge of an event “unsur prosa cerita yang
disebut latar ini menyangkut tentang
geografi, sejarah, sosial dan
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bahkan kadang-kadang lingkungan politik atau latar belakang tempat kisah itu
berlangsung” (ibid).
4. THEME
Theme is the meaning of a story, in which the readers usually find the
moral teaching of the story. Through the process of reading, a reader eventually
will find out the theme of the story. Finding the theme of a novel is the top in
learning a fiction. The theme can be concrete or abstract. The readers must
understand the plot, the characters, and the setting first, before they get to
something which is more abstract (Rahmanto, 1988: 75).
B. American Social Condition in the End of 20th Century and Early of 21st
Century
A label for United States as a super power nation has been known since
the end of 20th century. Its military and economic powers throughout the world
are the two main factors why this nation is called so. United States did not
suddenly attain its power. It improves from time to time. Through some historical
events United States got some experiences which finally built them as a strong
nation.
According to Thomas and Witts in Caroline Bird, John Cary and Julius
Weinberg’s The Social Fabric : American Life from the Civil War at the Present,
in the early 20th century American social condition was marked with a high level
of prosperity.
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user well in many aspects, such as
US economy developed
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productivity; in the variety of consumer goods manufactured, advertising, sale,
and distribution of the products. Americans had the ability to buy the products
thus they could enjoy a better standard of living. In 1920s, economists called this
era as “prosperity decade” (1984: 225).
Unfortunately the prosperity was unequally spread. It was only the well
educated people who could enjoy the benefits of the economic growth, while the
unskilled workers, farmers, miners and women could not. The unevenness of
distributing the prosperity and the inability of the consumers to buy the industrial
products led to Great Depression of 1930s. The Great Depression gave a very bad
impact to the US economy and its people. Unemployment increased sharply and it
became the most serious problem, and poverty was unavoidable (ibid).
In this decade, millions of Americans shared the same experiences; hunger
and want, an unemployed father, and a constant fear of what their economic future
might be as stated by Caroline Bird in John Cary and Julius Weinberg’s The
Social Fabric : American Life from the Civil War at the Present. Poverty was all
around America and was easily found there. The condition influenced young
American women to delay their marriage, they knew there was no job for men and
could not imagine themselves as breadwinners (1984: 200).
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the president in that era launched New Deal in
1933. The new deal program was to promote recovery and reform the nation’s
economic institution. The program endured until 1939. US congress decisions for
fighting in the Second World War brought an end to the Depression. The war
brought many changes in American life. Economically, it brought an end to
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unemployment; millions of Americans were employed in some instances, and
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even women could work outside their homes. Politically, the war gave a greater
sense to the national existence. US victory over Nazi Germany and imperial Japan
showed the strength of US as a powerful nation in the world. Demographically,
the war brought marriage to young couples and increased the number of children
per family or called as “baby boom’. The most important change in postwar era
was the high development of education. Many American went to study at
university. More educated people at university made US became the leader of the
world in research and technology (Lingeman in Bird, Cary and Weinberg, 1984:
243-280).
The advance achieved in many sectors of the American life in postwar era
bought America people to enter the period of prosperity. As Andrew Hacker
stated, US entered a period of prosperity in longer duration than any other
experienced by this nation. Buildings were built upon the technologies, industrial
plants and human resources developed. America industry provided the nation with
a standard of living; many American people could enjoy a middle class income
that became the envy of the rest of the world (in Bird, Cary and Weinberg, 1984:
299).
The greater income earned by the American people influence their
lifestyle. They became a consumer oriented society. It was supported by the
existence of new malls and suburban department stores which made them easy to
purchase some goods. Many jobs offered in town created immigration to urban
area. It created a new characterization of Americans; they prefer stay in their new
town to live back to their hometown (ibid). At the age of around 18, American
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teenagers usually live separately from their parents. They go to town to get a
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better education. It also trains them to live individually and dependently. Most
teenagers like to live in this way, they become separated from their parents, and
they can do everything they want without any forbidden from their parents. Town
also becomes their destination to seek for job. Some varieties of jobs are available
there. They could choose many kinds of jobs that are suitable with their skill and
education.
At present time, both men and women definitely could go working. This
phenomenon is closely related with one of influential book The Feminine
Mystique by Betty Friedan in 1963. It gave a very significant influence for the
women to against the ideology of domesticity. It brought women to have the equal
opportunity in working, childcare and house working. Work field became a
competition between men and women to earn money.
People living at town or known as urban society are commonly recognized
as individual society. They have less social interaction with their neighborhood.
They get so busy with their own work, and their own business. They want to reach
the goal of their life. Many variety of jobs are available in town, one of them is
the fashion industry, in which more women work in this field than men do.
Everyone deals with fashion everyday. They, who say do not care about
fashion, actually do care about fashion. Since every time we choose what clothes
that we are going to wear, the clothes say a lot about our personalities. Fashion is
a state of mind that can be shown through the clothes we wear everyday or even
the accessories we put on our body. One important thing in the fashion world is
change. Movies, music, books and television give big impact on what become
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fashionable in certain period of time. In 1940s American women’s fashion were
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influenced by the uniform look of the World War II. Trend is sometimes worldwide.
In
1950s,
teenagers
everywhere
dressed
like
Elvis
Presley
(http://www.pbs.org/newshour/infocus/fashion/whatisfashion.html).
In this 21st century western fashion especially American fashion gives
much influence toward fashion in the world, moreover western fashion became
international fashion since the western musicians, movie stars and media have
penetrated all parts of the world. Media reports about what kind of dress that will
be worn by some artists. Even politicians have always been waited by the public,
for example media and the society itself were waited and they were curious about
the dress that would be worn by the first lady, Mitchell Obama on her husband
inauguration ceremony as the president of United States. They believed that the
dress worn by the first lady would be the next trend of fashion. Musicians, movie
stars and even political figures have strong influence in dictating what will be the
trend of fashion in certain period of time.
Fashion always develop and change. Various styles in fashion separate
people into groups where they belong. Hip hopers show their identity with the hip
hop fashion in large cut clothes. High school students classify the nerd group
through the round glasses they wear. Styles show someone’s identity, they show
who you are but they also create stereotypes and distance between groups for
example, a businessman might think a boy with green hair and multiple piercing
as a freak, but within that group his appearance is uniform. Everyone has right to
choose in which group they belong to, in which style that show who they are.
Acceptance and rejection of a style we choose is a reaction to the society we live
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in (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/infocus/fashion/whatisfashion.html).
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Fashion is a big business. Many American people count on their dreams in
the fashion industry. New York City is often referred as the center of New York
fashion. More than 200 thousand people come to New York City to pursue a
better future, either to begin their career after graduation or to get higher
education.
Working in the fashion industry especially fashion magazine company
may give us many benefits. We can get a lot of free stuffs that designers send over
to the company and goodie bags. We can also get free tickets to some fashion
events. The fabulous lifestyle offered in the fashion industry attracts some
American people to come to New York and try to get a better life. Freedom also
becomes other reason why people come there. Frank Sinatra’s song about New
York tells that how someone must work hard in this city to make her/his dreams
come true, it says “if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere”. New York
is a city with abundance of opportunity for those who want to express themselves
in reaching their goal of life. Everyone comes to this city and they bring their
own goals of life. The goals are not easily attained; we must put our best effort to
realize it. Then we can have a better life. (http://www.39thanbroadway.com/talesfashion-industry-transplants/).
America now is a powerful country, it has already reached its freedom as
nation, and this spirit of freedom which is spread and settled in the mindset of
American people. It has passed from one generation to the next generation. The
spirit of reaching freedom eventually gives women the same opportunity with
men in many aspects of life. Thus at present time all Americans are free to pursue
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their dreams without any pressure from someone else. Fashion is one of the
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examples people can show their ideas and expression freely. They can show their
feeling and personalities through the clothes they wear. Life is all about choices
and in fashion we are free to choose the clothes which show who we are.
C. The American Myth of Individual Freedom
For some people “myth” is generally known as Greek god and goddesses’
story or mistake or error which has somehow come to be accepted as true
(Nachbar and Lause, 1992: 84). However in the case of the study of popular
culture, myth here refers to the bedrock of cultural beliefs which provide the
foundation of mindset. It says nothing about the “truth” or “falsity” of any belief
or value; it says that the belief or value is significant and long lasting- vital to the
mindset of the culture which holds it – and that it is widely accepted as being true.
The point is that myth is believed and that people make choices and action based
upon the belief in myth (Nachbar and Lause, 1992: 84).
According to Slotkin in Nachbar and Lause myth has close connection
with history, and popular beliefs and values do not develop in some short timeless
vacuum of cultural contemplation and musing (1992: 85). The existence of
American myths, beliefs and values has grown out of very real historical events.
They are rooted from the history of the very first time the America people came to
the America continent.
One of the very important myths in America is myth of individual
freedom. The myth rooted from the struggle of the 13 colonies’ fight against the
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rebellion of the British Empire. They wanted to be free from the old restrictions
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and build a new nation which can decide their own actions and choices. As stated
by Jack Nachbar and Kevin Lause in in Popular Culture: An Introductory Text
(1992) “America was born out of a rebellion against all those who would place
restrictions upon the inherent right of individual to determine their own choices
and actions” (1992: 46-47)
This myth makes all Americans free to do any kinds of effort to reach their
American dream. There are no boundaries for them to be successful, but they
must not disturb other people’s life freedom.
The myth has lived long lasting in every aspects of Americans’ life, from
the very beginning of the construction of this country to the condition at present.
The myth had rooted in the history of America. The manifestation of the myth can
be seen in several construction of the nation. One of the manifestations of the
myth can be seen in how the separated 13 colonies finally be united under one
nation; America. The colonies shared the same experiences, they were the Sons of
Liberty, they wanted to be free from the English authority, and they wanted to
build a new nation. In 4th July 1776 America finally declared its independence
day. And in their declaration of Independence it had proclaimed the unalienable
rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Americans people were used to be group of people who felt insecure about
their individual freedom. So that when they declared their independence it was
important to know that there would be no more interference toward their
individual freedom. But then this nation was aware that the protection of these
rights was not secure enough. There were 13 independent states which were still
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surrounded by the power of Europe and had chance to be wracked by the internal
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disorder. Then constitutional conventions began in Philadelphia in 1787 which
aimed to build a stronger nation that would able to protect “life, liberty, and
property”. American political system is not only a democratic system, but also a
constitutional one. The founders believed that the democratic system did not only
concern about goals as liberty and equality, but also saw it as the best way to
govern the complex society, while the constitutions were made focusing on the
process of realizing the goals. (Burns and Macgregor, 1989: 1-4)
The democratic system that the founders of America had believed to
govern the complex society has some basic premises which acknowledge the
importance of individual in a society.
First, democrats recognize the fundamental and importance
of the individual.
Second, democrats recognize the right of each individual to
be treated as a unique and inviolable human being. They do
not insist that all are equal in talents or virtues; they do insist
that one person’s claim to life, liberty, and property must be
recognized as much as another’s.
Third, democrats are convinced that freedom is good in itself.
Liberty or freedom (used interchangeably here) means that
all individuals must have the opportunity to realize their own
goals. The core of liberty is self-determination. Liberty is not
simply the absence of external restraint on a person; it is the
individual’s power to act positively to reach his or her goals.
Moreover, both history and reason suggest that individual
liberty is the key to social progress. The greater people’s
freedom, the greater the chance of discovering better ways of
life. (Burns and Macgregor, 1989: 4)
It is clear how democracy values the importance of individual in a society
and the importance of freedom for an individual. The freedom they have allows
them to act positively to reach their goals without interfering somebody else’s
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freedom. In making its political system,
American tends to have a democracy
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system since it values higher the importance of individual freedom in a society.
Here we can see also how the myth of American individual freedom was
manifested in the making of the nation.
Besides American political system which values the importance of
individual rights in a society, one important document that shows how America
highly values the importance of individual right is Bill of Rights. It was a
document resulted from the great intense debate for 4 years between the
Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. The delegates from 13 colonies convened in
Philadelphia in 1787 and drafted constitution of the United States. The first draft
set up a system of checks and balances that included a strong executive branch, a
representative legislature and a federal judiciary. The Constitution was
remarkable, but it still flawed. It did not include the Bill of rights. The
constitution only stated what the government should do and it did not include
what the government could not do. Due to this, some people were afraid that the
government would interfere the rights of the people. The absence of Bill of Rights
turned out to be an obstacle to the Constitution to be ratified by the states. It also
caused a great debate between the Federalist and the Anti-Federalist, and took 4
years of intense debates before the new government’s form resolved
(http://www.aclu.org/racial-justice_prisoners-rights_drug-lawreform_immigrants-rights/bill-rights-brief-history). The Anti-Federalists were
against the ratification of the constitution since by the absence of Bill of Rights,
people would loose their right because of the self government. They feared the
constitution gave the president too much power. The Anti-Federalist politicians
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opposed the creation of a federal or national government that would have power
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over the states. Meanwhile, the Federalists urged the Constitution to be ratified.
They thought Bill of Rights was not included because listing all the rights was
impossible. It was too complicated.
And they favored a strong federal
government that would unite the states as one large continental nation.
Though the Anti-Federalists united in opposing to the Constitution they
did not agree on what form of government made the best alternative to it. They
still had different opinion in their own group. Some still believed that the Articles
of Confederation could be amended in such a way that they would provide a
workable confederation. Others were even ready to accept the Constitution if it
was amended in such a way that the rights of citizens and states would be more
fully protected. Meanwhile the Federalist focused their arguments on the
inadequacies of national government under the Article of Confederation, and they
argued that a strong central government would foster the commercial growth of
the new country. The way these two groups viewed the American society was
also different. The Anti-Federalists viewed the society made up principally of
farmers, while the Federalists viewed the society as comprising many different
and competing interests and groups none of which would be completely dominant
in a federalist system of government. For this reason many scholars argued that
the Federalists were more aware to the social and economic changes of American
society. They had more reliable vision and strong arguments than the AntiFederalists did, thus made the Federalists were more favorable to the people, and
somehow they were well considered.
The most famous example of The Federalist doctrine was The Federalist
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Papers. It was a collection of 85 essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison,
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and John Jay. It was published in New York newspaper and in two bound
volumes distributed during the ratification debate. It communicated the central
ideas of the Federalists, the benefits of a Union between the states, the importance
of an energetic, effective federal government and a defense of the republicanism
of the proposed Constitution. One of the most famous of its essays is The
Federalist number 10, by James Madison. In it Madison addressed the issue of
whether or not the republican government could protect the liberty of its citizens.
Madison saw that the most destructive thing to a nation was faction. According to
Madison, a faction was a number of the whole, who were united and actuated by
some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other
citizens, or to the permanent aggregate interests of the community.
Madison divided popular government into two types, democratic and
republican. In a democracy, all citizens participate directly in the decisions of
government. In a republic, representatives elected by the people make the
decisions of government. In his essay he contended that republican government
could best solve the problem of faction. The view of James Madison was only one
of the many points that the Federalist Papers made in favor of the Constitution.
The outcome from the great debate was the ratification of the Constitution.
By 1790, all 13 states had ratified the document giving the Federalists and their
Constitution a great victory. By 1791, in response to the Anti-Federalists
sentiments state legislatures voted to add the first ten Amendments to the
Constitution called Bill of Rights and they have become important part of the
Constitution
and
its
heritage
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of
liberty
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(http://law.jrank.org/pages/5603/Constitution-United-States-FEDERALISTVERSUS-ANTI-FEDERALIST.html).
Bill of Rights is truly a manifestation of the myth of individual freedom
embraced by American people. It is a written document in which the content
proves how Americans highly value the importance of individual rights and the
protection towards it. The idea of individual rights is the oldest and most
traditional of Americans values. The entire Bill of rights was created to protect
rights the original citizens believed were naturally theirs, including: freedom of
religion,
freedom
of
speech,
press,
petition,
and
assembly
(http://www.aclu.org/racial-justice_prisoners-rights_drug-lawreform_immigrants-rights/bill-rights-brief-history).
The myth shapes American people to become free to express their ideas
and to determine their choices in choosing job, field of study, and even the simple
thing like choosing the outfit they will wear. With the freedom every American
people can be herself or himself. No one can dictate what a person should do and
determine what they have to choose in their life. Every person has their right to
choose what is best for him or herself.
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CHAPTER III
ANALYSIS
HOW THE MYTH OF AMERICAN INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM IS
REFLECTED IN THE NOVEL “THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA”
This chapter contains the analysis related to the research question stated in
the first chapter, that is ―How is the myth of American Individual freedom
reflected in the novel The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger?‖ The
analysis uses sociological and cultural approaches, and applies historical
background to answer the question how the myth of American individual freedom
is reflected in the novel.
The novel conveys much about social life in a big city like Manhattan and
New York, the settings of the novel. It presents two main women characters,
Miranda Priestley as the boss, and Andrea Sachs as her assistant. Miranda
Priestley is portrayed as a very mean boss and the title itself The Devil Wears
Prada is the representation of her. She is a chief editor of a big fashion magazine,
Runway. She is symbolized as a devil because of her cruel attitude towards her
employees.
This novel focuses much on Andrea‘s life in reaching her dream. It also
uses Andrea as the first point of view. She much represents what the novel wants
to tell, that is the American myth of individual freedom. Lily Goodwin, Andrea‘s
best friend, one of the supporting characters, also represents the myth of
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individual freedom. Therefore these two characters are analyzed to describe how
the novel The Devil Wears Prada expresses the myth of individual freedom. The
manifestation of the myth in Andrea character can be seen in the life of young
Andrea, the time when she worked at Runway, her relationship with her
roommates Shanti and Kendra, her relationship with her friend Lily, her
relationship with her boyfriend Alex and her relationship with her family. While
the manifestation of the myth in Lily character can be seen in her relationship with
her friend Andrea, her style, her lifestyle and her study.
Reading the novel The Devil Wears Prada we will read a lot about the
portrayal of carrier women‘s life in New York City in the modern time. Big city is
always known for its people who are individualistic and for becoming the centre
of education, entertainment, and work field, and so is New York. New York
becomes the American‘s destination to reach their dreams. This is also what
happens to Andrea Sachs and Lily Goodwin. They both came to New York to
reach their goal of life. Through these two characters, the researcher analyzes how
the American myth of individual freedom is reflected in the novel.
The novel The Devil Wears Prada portrays the modern life of New York;
how the young people who come to this place struggle to realize their dreams. It
tells a lot about carrier women and goal and choices of life. It relates to the myth
that everyone has the right to choose what is best for him/herself in order to reach
his/her goals of life as stated in the previous chapter.
In this modern era, the American society still holds the myth of
individual freedom. This myth has been lasted along with this nation since they
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declared their independence, formed their government, and constructed their
constitution. It shows that American always put first the importance of the
individual. This makes every American value the individual freedom. The myth
has already existed in their mindset and they embody it in their daily life through
their way of thinking, behaviors and life experience. For some authors the beliefs
and values of a certain myth can be reflected in their works. They capture what is
going on in their society then they write it into their work and add with their
imagination, opinions and hopes toward the society. According to the formula of
popular culture stated by Nachbar and Lause, the more the product reflects the
myths, beliefs and values of the society the more popular the product will be
(Nachbar and Lause, 1992: 5). The more it reflects the beliefs and values of the
society the more it will be accepted by the society. The novel The Devil Wears
Prada is one of the products of popular culture which is well accepted by the US
society since in the novel we can find a lot about American‘s myths, beliefs, and
values. One of the myths reflected in the novel is the American myth of individual
freedom. Paying attention to one of the leading characters of and one of the
supporting characters of the novel, we will read a lot about how they get the goal
of their life; the way that they choose to make their dreams come true.
In order to get further understanding about how these two characters
represent the myth of individual freedom, each character will be analyzed deeply.
Since both characters have two different main goals of life and they have different
lifestyle which influence the point of view of how the myth is reflected so it
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would be better if the analysis of each character is separated. How Andrea as the
main character reflects the myth of individual freedom is explained first.
By reading the novel we can read how the life of Andrea embodies the
myth of individual freedom. In her adolescence, she was faced with some choices
of life relating with her future and career. She was a modest, sub-urban girl who
had just finished studying at Brown University. She spent her past 23 years old in
a small town America, Avon Connecticut. Her social activities were only about
high school sports, youth group meeting, drinking parties at nice suburban ranch
homes when the parents were away. Like all the young girls in her town, she
wore the simple clothes, such as sweatpants to school, jeans for Saturday night,
and ruffled puffiness for semiformal dances. And going to college was a world of
sophistication after high school for her. She went to Brown University where all
facilities were available for Andrea‘s intellectual or creative interest that she
wanted to pursue. After graduating from her college, she did not want to get
involved in a carrier life too early. So she managed to have a solo trip (TDWP,
2003: 10-11).
For the three months following graduation, I‘d scrounged together
what little cash I could find and took off on a solo trip. I did
Europe by train for a month, spending much more time on beaches
than in museums, and didn‘t do a very good job of keeping touch
with anyone back home except Alex, my boyfriend of three years
(TDWP, 2003: 11).
Having a vacation after a hard long routine is one of the best ways for relaxing
minds and being free from heavy burdens of life. That is what Andrea did, got
herself free after a long hard studying at college. She enjoyed the time only for
herself, without other interference.commit to user
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A solo trip is one of the activities representing myth of individual freedom.
For a month Andrea did a solo trip with no companion even no contact with
anyone except Alex, her boyfriend. In doing her solo trip, she really did not get
any interrupting thing from her family or friend, because she needed to be alone
and free, moreover her family knew that she did need time for herself. This
activity shows how much American people value individual freedom.
The major manifestations of the myth can be seen when Andrea worked at
Runaway. Before Andrea got a job in Runway she already set her goal of life;
finding a job in magazine publishing company. Though it sounded too high,
working as a journalist in The New Yorker was the only job she dreamt of (TDWP,
2003: 12). However, the first place hiring her was Runway, a fashion magazine.
The first manifestation of the myth in the character of Andrea when she worked at
Runway was when she decided to take the job in Runway. The first time Andrea
came to Ellias-Clark building was when she was interviewed to be Miranda‘s
second assistant. She was told repeatedly that working for a year for Miranda
would open her opportunity to work at every magazine publishing that she wanted.
This thing made her desperately want the job.
It was at this point I began to want the job desperately, in the way
people yearn for things they consider unattainable. It might not be
akin to getting into law school or having an essay published in a
campus journal, but it was, in my starved-for-success mind, a real
challenge– a challenge because I was an imposter, and not a very
good one at that. I had known the minute I stepped in the Runway
floor that I didn‘t belong. My clothes and hair were wrong for sure,
but more glaringly out of place was my attitude. I didn‘t know
anything about fashion and I didn‘t care. At all! And therefore, I
had to have it. Besides, a million girls would die for this job
(TDWP, 2003: 24).
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Fashion was not completely part of Andrea. But since the job was promising to
her she decided to take the job. She believed that the job would be her stepping
stone to The New Yorker.
Americans has innate right to personal freedom. They have opportunity to
make their goals come true. Thus they believe that they are absolutely able to
pursue their dreams and they can act with their own way. Working at Runway was
Andrea‘s opportunity to make her goals come true. She chose to accept the
challenge and took the risk working in a fashion magazine. She believed that the
challenge she took will bring her a better and brighter career. Her strong passion
to work at Runway reflects the myth of individual freedom. She made her own
choice by herself and took the challenge. Though she would humiliate herself
since she knew that her clothes, hair style, make-up and even attitude did not
belong to the place, she just went for it. One thing for sure in her mind that this
Runway job would open her career in the journalism field. Thus she committed to
herself that she really needed the job in order to pursue her dreams. She made this
choice with no influence of others. Her friends and family doubted a little that she
could be accepted in a fashion magazine. They knew Andrea was completely not
fashionable. And it seemed like impossible for a fashion magazine like Runway to
hire Andrea. Yet she ignored it and was optimistic to be accepted at Runway.
The second manifestation of the myth is shown in how she manages her
look. Andrea was accepted at Runway, the biggest fashion magazine in the world,
where interest in fashion was crucial. It was like unwritten rule that every
employee at Runway must represent the place where they work.
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As a
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consequence, Andrea, the modest girl, always had problems with choosing some
outfit to wear everyday. No matter how hard she tried to find some fashionable
clothes from her closet, her look always ended miserable.
Andrea‘s standard of beauty is completely different from the standard of
beauty of the girls in Runway. The Runway girl had slim body and they all looked
like model though they were not. Below is the description how she feels beautiful.
Andrea has her own definition about feeling beautiful. ―There was no make up on
my face, and my jeans were dirty around the bottom from trudging through the
city slush. But at that moment, I felt beautiful ―(TDWP, 2006: 34). She has no
idea about fashion and how to put on make-up either. She describes her own
definition of beauty. Everyone‘s definitions about the word ―beautiful‖ are varied.
They have their own personal definition about it and so does Andrea. People
usually would consider that beautiful means very attractive, full make-up, sexy
dress, slim body. In short definitions of beauty are often related to physical
appearances
(http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Definition-of-Beauty&id=4383596).
Being natural for Andrea is beautiful. What she feels about beauty reflects the
myth. She has her own definition about it, no influence of others nor social
judgment. While others may think that beautiful always relates to physical
appearances, she defines it as a feeling when you are so free and enjoy your life
which has no relation to the physical appearance at all. According to her, feeling
beautiful is about your emotion and the happiness you feel. It has no deal with
physical appearances as others might think.
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For twelve weeks she defended her look. By this look she expressed her
spirit of individual freedom about beauty. She was not influenced by the standard
of beauty in Runway. And for this long too she had been mocked. She survived
this as she believed that in doing her job she would not be judged from her look.
It was the job which would be considered; whether she could do the job well or
not was more important for her than her look. But in fact the people at Runway
always valued someone from her look. For them look was the first priority. They
preferred to value someone from the look not the job. Being not able to stand in
the situation that they did not appreciate her job because of her look and outfit,
then Andrea decided to make over her self and started dressing better.
[…..] Hell, I‘d survived three full months—if wearing a Prada
turtleneck instead of one from Urban Outfitters was going to
help me survive the next nine, then so be it. I decided I‘d start
putting together a new and improved wardrobe immediately
(TDWP, 203: 147).
Dressing like the Runway girls does not mean that Andrea has
surrendered her freedom, her choices in the way she dresses. But it is more
concerned with her career. Here she makes her choices in the name of her
priority of her life, and that is her career in a magazine publishing that makes
her survive at Runway for a year. So it can be said that when she decides to
dress well, it does not mean that she is under control of Runway. She is not
controlled but she decides to dress better by herself. She lets her self be
controlled by Runway on the way she dresses since it helps her career to survive
there longer ―And so I decided at the beginning of my fourth month (only nine
commit
to user
more to go) at Runway to be a new
woman
and start dressing the part‖ (TDWP,
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2003: 144). Moreover, by following the trend and the fashion in Runway, she
now gets the benefit of it. She now knows more about fashion and the most
important is she becomes more acceptable to work at Runway.
The other passage that supports how Andrea expresses the myth by
deciding her look is shown when she was pointed by Miranda to come to a night‘s
gala affair. Everybody at Runway worked hard trying to prepare her to look
appropriate at the party and to show that they had high level of taste and class.
They arranged what dress and accessories she should wear. They also insisted
bringing a make-up artist to her apartment. But she refused. It is shown in the
passage below:
[…] I briefly wondered if I looked ridiculous wearing a floorlength Oscar de La Renta gown and Bonne Belle Lipsmackers
in Fudgsicle. Probably, but I had turned down all offers of
having a makeup artist come to my apartment. Everyone on
staff tried to insist—and none too subtly—but I adamantly
refused. Even I had limits. (TDWP, 2003: 307).
Andrea‘s statement ―Even I had limits‖ strengthens her thought about
individual freedom. She allowed people at Runway help her with the dress but she
refused to have a make-up artist came to her apartment. She even had limit
showing that though she had to represent Runway in the way she looked but she
still wanted to defend her freedom and had her own make-up on her face. She had
her own limitation on which part she would let others control her look.
The third manifestation of the myth while Andrea worked at Runway can
be seen in how Andrea chose the menu that she considered best for herself. The
menu at Runway‘s cafeteria indirectly had shown the rule about what the
to user
employees had to eat. All womencommit
at Runway
had a slim body and they had their
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own standard of body size. It also meant that they had to control and limit what
they ate and they became very selective in choosing their menu. It is in contrast to
Andrea. Though everyone at Runway is selective with their food menu, she
defends her freedom to eat the menu which she likes. It is shown in the passage
below:
I was the only one in the entire company who actually
bought soup –and I‘d only been three week—the higher –ups
had slashed his menu to a solitary soup per day. (TDWP, 2003:
75).
The petite cashier looked first at the soup and then at
my hips when she rang me up. Or had she? I‘d already grown
accustomed to being looked up and down ever time I went
anywhere, and I could‘ve sworn she was looking at me with
the same expression I would‘ve given a five hundred-pound
person with eight Big Macs arrayed in from of him: the eyes
raised just enough as if to ask, ―Do you really need that?‖ but I
brushed my paranoia aside and reminded myself that the
woman was simply a cashier in a cafeteria, not a Weight
Watcher counselor. Or a fashion editor (TDWP, 2003: 75).
Andrea knew that the soup she chose contained a lot of fat that would
make her fat. But she ignored this notion. She did not care that she would get fat
because of the soup. She ignored how the cashier paid attention to her look and
criticized her choice. She still chose soup as her favorite menu at Runway.
Moreover she was the only woman in Runway who ate the soup. She was not
influenced with the women at Runway who had slim body. She did not try to
shape her body like them, instead she just enjoyed eating anything she wanted and
liked. Even she kept it as her favorite menu as long as she was at Runway. As it is
shown ―—so I didn‘t have my usually luxurious seven minutes to beeline to the
to user
soup table and gulp it down back commit
at my desk‖
(TDWP, 2003: 212). Though for all
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women at Runway the soup was the most avoided menu since it contained a lot of
fat but for her having the soup was one of her luxurious habits she ever got in
Runway.
The fourth manifestation of the myth while Andrea worked at Runway
was shown in a situation when Andrea had left her office unattended because she
could not stand starving for few hours more. Emily was going out for lunch and
she had not come back yet for long hours.
I just couldn‘t do it. So when four o‘clock rolled around
and there was still no sign of Emily and no call from Miranda,
I did the unthinkable: I left the office unattended (TDWP,
2003:73).
Andrea knew that she should not leave her office while Emily was not there. But
it became unbearable since she felt very starving. Then she decided to break the
rule and went to get some lunch. Her job was much demanding. It completely
limited her in doing things. But Andrea still defends her freedom. Though she
dedicates herself at Runway but if her freedom gets bothered she will not like it
and sometimes break the rule as shown in the passage above. She defends her
right to do something she needs, having lunch. Besides, what Emily did is
unacceptable; having lunch for four hours and leaving Andrea to get starving. So
she left the desk no matter what because she thought this was what she needed to
do for herself.
The fifth manifestation of the myth when Andrea worked at Runway is
shown with Andrea‘s hatred to the phone. Phone was one means of
communication that connected Miranda and Andrea. No matter where Andrea
commit
to Though
user
was, Miranda still could find her by
phone.
for most people they will feel
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delightful to get their phone ring, it will be different with Andrea. Her ringing
phone was such a panic sign which meant that it was certain that Miranda was on
the phone. Through the phone Miranda delivered her command to her assistants.
And it was a must for the assistants to always pick up the phone. The fact that she
would always be tied with the phone was very inconvenient Andrea. She hated to
be tied with something and someone. It is in contrast to her value which adores
the importance of freedom in her life. Below is the passage showing her hatred to
cell phone:
I hated that cell phone with my entire soul. I even hated my new
Bang and Olufsen home phone by this point. I hated Lily‘s phone,
commercials for phone, pictures of phones in magazines, and I
even hated Alexander Graham Bell. Working for Miranda Priestley
caused a number of unfortunate side effects in my day-to-day life,
but the most unnatural one was my severe and all-consuming
hatred of phones (TDWP, 2003: 104).
I loathed that fucking cell but could not ignore it. It kept me tied
to Miranda like an umbilical cord, refusing to let me grow up or
out or away from my source of suffocation. She called
constantly …Brrring-brrring. Increased heart rate. ……………..
Briiiiiiiiiiing. Oh, why won‘t she leave me alone, please, oh,
please, just forget I‘m alive—sweat breaks out on my forehead
(TDWP, 2003: 105).
However, from Miranda‘s point of view, phone is a tool she uses to show
her superiority as a boss. It shows that she can ask her assistants whenever she
wants. Below is the passage showing how Miranda phoned Andrea arbitrarily.
She was in Paris at that time calling Andrea who was in America. She phoned
her just to ask why she had not received the novel of Harry Potter yet. The fact
that they were in different countries and there was a different time between these
countries was ignored by Miranda.commit to user
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She‘d called with no concern that her nine A.M. call would have
reached me at three A.M., on my most perfect weekend in
months. She‘d called to drive me a little crazier, push me a little
bit harder. She‘d called to dare me to defy her. She‘d called to
make me hate her that much more (TDWP, 2003: 113).
Andrea is not a big fan of interruption. She has been exhausted for
working in the weekdays so having a rest on the weekend is very important for
her. Therefore, when the interruption came while she was sleeping on her
weekend she hated it very much. Miranda‘s arbiter attitude was completely in
contrast to her freedom thus it pushed her to hate her more. Andrea ignored that
it was her boss who phoned her. She perceived that whoever it was who
interrupted her, she just did not like it since it disturbed her freedom.
The sixth manifestation of the myth when Andrea worked at Runway can
be seen in her habit of smoking. Working as Miranda‘s assistant was a hellish
job. It was an unstoppable job and sometimes Andrea got overwhelmed with the
jobs. Miranda always asked her to do other jobs while the previous one had not
been accomplished yet. Besides, she was a new worker and still adjusted to the
office condition and situation. Getting overwhelmed with the job, she usually
smoked at her spare time as shown below:
[…] The light turned green just as I managed to touch the fire to
the end of the cigarette, and I was forced to leave it hanging
between my lips as I negotiated the intricacies of clutch, gas, shift
(neutral to first? Or first to second), release clutch, the smoke
wafting in and out of my mouth with each and every breath
(TDWP, 2003: 2).
The setting of the novel is in one of the most crowded place in the US,
Manhattan. Manhattan as one of big cities in the US always gets accustomed to an
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awfully traffic jam at work hours. This is what happened to Andrea in her early
days at Runway. It portrays how crowded the traffic in Manhattan in the afternoon
while Andrea was trying to drive Miranda‘s car to her apartment. She had not got
used to the traffic either the car. This situation gave her a very panic thought. One
thing could make her feel a little bit better was cigarette to lose her panic.
There are many reasons why people smoke. For young people, they smoke
because they want to look mature, to be like their friends, and to experiment.
While for some adults they smoke for other reasons. They may have a lot of stress
and pressure because of economic or personal problems. They may be
unemployed, work but get too much pressure from their boss, or have bad
relationship and marriage. All these people may smoke to feel relaxed or to give
them
more
energy
while
going
through
a
hard
time
(http://www.healthliteracy.worlded.org/docs/tobacco/Unit3/1why_people_smoke.
html). Andrea was a smoker thus she did need a cigarette when she was so much
stressful with the traffic and the car. She believed it would be relaxing. She knew
that smoking was a bad habit because the nicotine in it would gradually endanger
her lungs. Though she knew what the consequence was, she just kept on smoking
due to the pleasure she got after smoking. Some cigarette advertisements have
warned the danger of smoking. Somehow people still have the right to choose to
smoke or not. Smoking is about choice. Though it was harmful but she still did it.
It proves that she has her own choice and expresses her freedom by doing the
pleasure of inhaling cigarette. It shows the myth of individual freedom as she can
do anything she wants. Though it is harmful to her body
commit to user
she keeps doing it
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without other persons‘ interference because it makes her feel comfortable and
relaxed.
The seventh manifestation of the myth when Andrea worked at Runway
can be seen in how Andrea made a big decision to end her career at Runway.
Andrea‘s decision to become a Runway girl somehow shows that she does her job
seriously. It shows her credibility as Miranda‘s assistant who is not only smart
and brilliant, but also good at fashion. In the development, her work had shown
something in progress and Miranda started to like her. In her eleventh month
working for Miranda, Andrea accompanied Miranda to go to Paris. While
Miranda and Andrea were in the car, Andrea received a phone from her father
telling her that Lily was hospitalized and in comma because of having an
accident. Her father asked her whether she could go home or not. Since she was
receiving a call in front of Miranda so it was important for her to keep her
credibility to show how serious she worked for Miranda and to keep her
commitment to her. She said to her father that she could not come home and she
would call him later, because she was busy at that time. Though it was hard for
Andrea to know that her best friend was in comma yet she still wanted to show
her loyalty in front of Miranda. Knowing that her assistant ignored her family
matters, being more responsible to the job, and giving priority to it made Miranda
pleased. She told Andrea how at first she doubted her since she extremely did not
care about fashion. But after she paid attention to her, she knew that Andrea had
made some progress in her job even in her look. Seeing the enthusiasm of how
Andrea did her job she felt that they both had something in common. However
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sharing something in common with Miranda did not make Andrea feel pleased.
She was one of a kind, different with all the girls at Runway who extremely
admired Miranda and adored her in everything she did in fashion. So when
Miranda told her that she reminded her when she was at her age, it was
completely bothering her.
People maybe will be pleased if they have similarity with Miranda, who is
greatly successful in career, but not Andrea. She can be pleased since finally she
knows that she has done the right thing in her job moreover it is Miranda by
herself who compliments her. But on other side she does want to be the same as
Miranda who is successful but not happy in her family life. Thus Miranda‘s
statement kept spinning in her mind. It finally influenced Andrea in making her
decision about her career.
[…] ―You should be proud of yourself, Ahn-dre-ah.‖ Just when
I thought I‘d faint from the length and depth and content of the
soliloquy—whether from joy or from pain, I wasn‘t sure—she
took it one step further. In a move that was so fundamentally
out of character for this woman on every level, she placed her
hand on top of the one I had resting on the seat between us and
said, ―You remind me of myself when I was at your age.‖ And
before I could conjure up a single appropriate syllable to utter
the driver screeched to a halt in front of the Caroussed du
Louvre and leapt out to open the door. I grabbed my bag and
hers as well and wondered if this was the proudest or the most
humiliating moment of my life (TDWP, 2003: 407-408).
While thinking about Miranda‘s statement stating she was like Miranda,
Andrea was ordered to renew the twins‘ passports which had expired and it had to
be accomplished that day. She thought that the request could not be
accommodated since it was impossible for her to renew the passport in a day
commit
to user
while she was in different country.
She then
realized that her friend and family
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were much more important than her job and she also realized that she became
more like Miranda. On the spot she phoned and told her family that she was
coming home. Miranda disapproved, but Andrea just swore her publicly.
I yanked out my cell phone and punched in a number
and watched as Miranda became increasingly movre livid.
―Ahn-dre-ah! She hissed, much too ladylike to ever
make a scene. ―What do you think you‘re doing? I‘m telling
you that my daughters need passports immediately, and you
decide it‘s a good time to chat on your phone? Are you under
the very mistaken impression that‘s why I brought you to
Paris?‖
My mother picked up the third ring, but I didn‘t even say hello.
―Mom, I‘m getting on the next flight I can. I‘ll call you
when I get to JFK. I‘m coming home.
…………….
―Ahn-dre-ah, you realize what you‘re doing, do you
not? You do know that if you simply leave here like this, I‘m
going to be forced—―
―Fuck you, Miranda. Fuck you‖ ………………….
―Ahn-dre-ah!‖
―So sorry Miranda,‖ I announced in a normal voice that
for the first time since I‘d landed in Paris wasn‘t shaking
uncontrollably, ―but I don‘t think I‘ll be able to make it to the
party tomorrow. You understand don‘t you? I‘ m sure it‘ll be
lovely, so please do enjoy it. That‘s all‖. And before she could
respond, I hitched my bag higher up on my shoulder, ignored
the pain that was searing from heel to toe, and strutted outside
to hail a cab. I couldn‘t remember feeling better than that
particular moment. I was going home (TDWP, 2003: 411-41).
Unwilling to be like Miranda, Andrea took a big step in her life. She was
certain that she had her own path in realizing her dreams. Being liked Miranda
was unacceptable for her. She convinced herself that she was not like her. She
was not a person who ignored her family and friends as Miranda did. Moreover,
the twin‘s passport incident triggered her to express her spirit of individual
freedom to end her career in Runway. The incident made her become so sick with
to user
all the Runway things. She didcommit
not care
anymore about her commitment to
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survive a year in Runway. All she wanted to do at that time was just going back
home. She wanted to defend her freedom that she was just herself, unlike Miranda
or any body else. And for her family was the most important part of her life, not
Runway nor Miranda and her daughters. Thus she decided to go home and
reconnected with her family. Though others might think that swearing someone
publicly was considered to be impolite, but for her it was a reliving thing. She
ignored the notion and according to her she had done the right thing, she did
something that truly came from her heart.
Swearing her boss publicly surely would end Andrea‘s career at Runway.
Having fired from Runway, Andrea felt she had no idea about where she had to go
to wear all the Runway things. She decided to sell some clothes, shoes and bags
from Runway. She wants to get herself free from anything dealing with Runway.
She wants to get her identity back. And it is proven that she has sold the things
she has got from Runway.
I sold every last filmy top, leather pant, spiked boot,
and strappy sandal. The woman who worked the register called
the woman who owned the store, and the two of them had
decided it would be best if they just closed the shop down for a
few hours to evaluate my merchandise. The Louis Vuitton—
two larges suitcases, one medium-size accessories bag, and an
oversize trunk—alone had netted me six grand, and when they
were finally finished whispering and examining and giggling, I
cruised out of there with a check for just over $38,000. Which
by my calculations, meant that I could pay rent even feed
myself for a year while I tried to get this writing gig together.
And Loretta strolled into my life and made it instantly better
(TDWP, 2003: 430).
She was no more a Runway girl, thus she did not need to present it
anymore. Since nobody from Runway confirmed her about the clothes then they
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became hers now. And she deserved to do everything to her own including sell
them. Besides, the Runway things became useless for her. She also wanted to
bring back her identity as a modest girl who was free from Runway. Moreover she
could get profit from selling those things. It shows that being fired from Runway
does not make her life ruined, instead it makes her life change, even it is better.
She started writing again.
After she was fired from Runway she sent her 2,000 word fiction to
teenage magazine. And luckily they liked it. Loretta, the editor of Seventeen
magazine, would invite her to have an interview. She was happy that her writing
was liked. For her second interview, she decided to dress simply to represent
herself. As it is shown in the passage below:
I smoothed my well-cut but non-designer black pants
and checked to make sure that the cuffed bottoms hadn‘t
collected any of the city‘s muddy slush. I knew there was an
entire magazine staff of fashionistas who would emphatically
disagree with me, but I thought I looked pretty damn good for
only my second interview (TDWP, 2003: 428).
She was not bound to her office no more thus she had not to present to be
a Runway girl. So now she dressed so simple, somehow she felt very beautiful in
her outfit. She knew that what she was wearing for her second interview was
unfashionable. Since she had learned about fashion at Runway so she knew what
those fashionistas would think about her outfit. Although she knew what those
fashionable people would think about her clothes, she just dressed in that way
since she felt comfortable with her clothes now. She still kept her thought about
how to define beautiful for herself.
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Being a journalist was always Andrea‘s dream and she started it by
working as a freelance writer in Seventeen magazine in which no more Miranda‘s
interference. She was free to write, no bound to anyone or anything. Though it
was not The New Yorker but she thought that it was a good step for her career.
Other manifestation of the myth can be seen in Andrea‘s relationship with
her roomates, Shanti and Kendra. The manifestation of the myth in the
relationship between Andrea and Shanti and Kendra is first shown when Andrea
finally found a room to live. After accepted at Runway she moved to Manhattan.
She shared an apartment with Shanti and Kendra, Lily‘s friend‘s friend. The
following passage shows how satisfied she is when she finally could have a room
to live.
And eventough I tried special mounting tape, and much cursing,
the framed photos refused to adhere to the exposed brick wall.
After nearly three hours of effort and knuckles rubbed bleeding
and raw from the brick, I finally propped them up on the
windowsill. It was for the best, I thought. Blocked a bit of the
direct view the woman living across the airshaft had into my room.
None of it mattered, though. Not the airshaft instead of a majestic
skyline or the lack of drawer space or the closet that was too small
to hold a winter coat. The room was mine – the first I could
decorate all on my own, with no input from parents or roommates
– and I loved it (TDWP, 2006: 39).
After having her own room, Andrea now can be free to decorate it. The
decoration of a room always represents the personality of the owner. People just
decorate it to be as comfortable as possible for them since it is a rest place after
working all day long. Besides, it is a place you see in the morning after you wake
up. So it is important to make you feel good to start your day. Thus, it is very
often they try to add some things that can make the atmosphere more relaxed
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when they decorate it (http://www.freshwebhost.com/directory/your-homes-mostimportant-room-your-bedroom/). The decoration and the things in a room are
always personal and private. Thus a room can symbolize a freedom. Having a
new room for Andrea also shows a freedom for her. Though it is small and has
minimum value, somehow it is hers. She could decide to decorate her room the
way she wanted without any input from anybody else including her family and
friends, all on her own. She felt satisfied with it. It reflects the myth since in
doing her needs she just does it by her own decision without any input from
others.
The second manifestation of the myth in Andrea‘s relationship with Shanti
and Kendra can be seen when Alex came to her apartment at night. It was a hard
day for Andrea but by surprise Alex came to her apartment bringing her some
dinner. She planned to have dinner in the living room but Shanti and Kendra were
watching TV there. But then she realized that they already fell asleep. Knowing
this made Andrea very happy since she was sure that her dinner with Alex would
not bother them who were sleeping. It also means that Andrea can do anything
she wants to do with Alex in her room. She can be more free in doing her action
since no one will feel bothered. Her statement stating ―Sweet lives all we had‖
(TDWP, 2003: 82) strengthen how much she felt happy with the situation at that
time. It also implies that, for her, happiness is the feeling she feels when there are
no irritating things and nobody feeling irritated.
I thought about eating in the living room since there was no
kitchen, but Kendra and Shanti had both collapse in front of the
TV together, their untouched takeout salads open in front of
userthe Real World episode
them. I thought they were commit
waiting to
until
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they were watching was over, but then I noticed that they‘d
both already fallen asleep. Sweet lives all we had (TDWP,
2003: 82).
The third manifestation of the myth in Andrea‘s relationship with Shanti
and Kendra is about how the social life of Andrea and her friends in their
apartment. It is shown below:
….. I leaned over to kick my bedroom door closed when I heard
Shanti and Kendra come home from work. I heard a guy‘s voice
with them and wondered if either of my roommates had
boyfriends. I‘d seen them a combined total only ten minutes in
the last week and a half, because they seemed to work longer
than I did (TDWP, 2003; 81).
I didn‘t realize until then that I‘d never so much stepped foot in
their room—in the few months I‘d lived with these girls, we
hadn‘t had a conversation of longer than thirty seconds—I didn‘t
know exactly what they did, where they went, or if they had any
friends besides each other. I was glad to be leaving (TDWP,
2003; 217).
The first passage above shows how social life performed by Andrea,
Shanti and Kendra represented the US society who highly values the individual
freedom. They shared the apartment, only a door separating them. But their
relationship was not too close. They kept their own privacy. Andrea did not want
to interrupt her roommates when she knew they were coming so she closed her
door. These girls‘ activity is also a manifestation of individual life in the US.
They had been so busy with the jobs that they did not have more time to have
socialization with others, even the closest ones with their room. As a result, they
still did not know one to another. The condition kept continuing until Andrea
decided to leave the apartment to move to other apartment with Lily, as shown in
commit to who
user were not close to each other.
the second passage. They were roommates‘
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Their distant relationship was also shown when Andrea decided to move
out from the apartment. Her moving out was perhaps unknown for Shanti and
Kendra, thus her mom suggested leaving them a note. She made a note on her
scrabble board writing her thankful and wishing them both luck. Instead of a
friendly and warm farewell, she just left a note for them. A very simple farewell
which proves how these people represent the individual life in the US.
Other manifestation of the myth can be seen in Andrea‘s relationship with
her best friend, Lily. The first manifestation of the myth in the relationship
between Andrea and Lily is when they both spent the weekend. Working at
Runway was much demanding job. Andrea worked for fourteen hours a day.
Working for that long in her first four weeks made her completely exhausted and
needed a rest. So when Friday came she could not wait to spend the weekend with
Lily watching marathon movie for the whole day long. She had planned it besides
they both had not met for long time since she became so busy with the job and
Lily with her study. But trouble came when Miranda asked Andrea to send to
Miranda‘s twin daughters the manuscript of the fourth book of Harry Potter which
she knew then that it had not been published yet. She did not want her plan on
weekend be failed so she tried hard to get The Harry Potter book immediately. It
is shown in the passage below:
It was a Friday morning of the weekend in the middle
of December and the sweet , sweet freedom of the weekend
was only ten hours away (TDWP, 2003: 92).
The Harry Potter project loomed ahead of me, and I had
to get moving on immediately if I ever wanted to get away this
weekend.
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Lily and I had planned a movie marathon weekend. I
was exhausted from work and she was stressed out from her
classes, so we‘d promised to spend the whole weekend parked
on her couch and subsist solely on beer and Doritos. No
Snackwells. No Diet Coke. And absolutely no black pants
(TDWP, 2003: 98).
I couldn‘t wait for the weekend. My fourteen-hour
workdays were registering in my feet, my upper arms, my
lower back. Glasses had replaced the contacts I‘d worn for a
decade because my eyes were to dry and tired to accept them
anymore. …………… I was only twenty three years old.
And Miranda hadn‘t even been in the office yet. Fuck it. I
deserved a weekend (TDWP, 2003: 99).
In the first passage shows how she counted down the hours when she would
get the freedom that she had been waiting for. Everybody who has spent the five
weekdays for working usually will passionately wait the weekend since at this
time they become free from their jobs and they can spare the time to be spent with
their family or friends. Weekend is also needed so that they can relax their mind
after long days of working. It happens to Andrea. She desperately needs the
weekend, her freedom to be free from her demanding job.
As an employee Andrea has to accomplish her job first before she can get
holidays. Besides, she will not feel relax spending her weekend if she has not
accomplished her job yet. In the second passage she shows that she is a good
employee who is responsible to her job. She tried hard to get the manuscript of
the fourth book of Harry Potter so that she could fully enjoy her weekend with
Lily. Both had a very hard and long week and felt exhausted with their routine. So
they planned to spend the weekend together as a celebration of their freedom
from routines and of their time together.
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Andrea‘s expression telling ―I couldn‘t wait for weekend‖ and ―Fuck it. I
deserved a weekend‖ (TDWP, 2003: 99) shows how much she is really tired with
her job. Her weariness makes her feel that she has the right to get a weekend. She
has been worked very hard through the hard days as Miranda‘s assistant. And she
wanted to be free for a little while in her weekend. The weekend for her means
the freedom from her demanding job and from Miranda. A time when she can
relax her mind and spend the day doing anything she likes. Her wants to have a
weekend reflects the myth since she really tries hard to get what she wants and be
free from tights.
The second manifestation of the myth in Andrea‘s relationship with Lily is
shown when Lily and Andrea laughed at a man who still lived with his parents for
four years at his adulthood. It represents how American society values the
individual freedom through leaving the parents.
―Well, at first he was going strong at seven-tenths. He was a
theater major at Yale and he‘s straight, and he could discuss
Israel politics intelligently that he never once suggested that we
‗just nuke ‗em‘, so that was good.‖
―Sure sounds good. I can‘t wait for the clincher. What was it?
Did he talk about his favorite Nintendo game?
―Worse.‖ She sighed.
―Is he thinner than you?‖
‖Worse.‖ She sounded defeated.
―What on earth could be worse that that?‖
―He lives on Long Island—―
―Lily! So he‘s geographically undesirable. That doesn‘t make
him undateable! You know better than to—―
―With his parents,‖ she interrupted.
Oh
―For the past four years.‖
Oh, my.
―And he absolutely loves it. Says he can‘t imagine wanting to
live alone in such a big city when his mom and dad are such
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to user
great company‖ (TDWP, 2003;
80-81).
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The passage above shows how at first Lily was very enchanted with a
guy, who was very smart, good looking, straight, and had a good interest or
hobby but he had one exception that no one could receive. The fact that he still
lived with his parents and how much he loved it was a very shocking and
shameful thing for her. Most Americans think that adult must live alone, away
from their parents. It shows someone‘s maturity and ability to live independently.
Andrea and Lily shared the same opinions that the guy who still lived with his
parents was a big no for dating. Their view about this guy shows that a dependent
thing in their life is very unacceptable. It is completely in contrast to what they
believe about freedom.
The importance of privacy and freedom performed in the US society also
can be seen in the passage when Andrea felt reluctant to stay any longer in Lily‘s
apartment. Knowing that she had been accepted at Runway ensured her that she
had to find her own apartment. She did not want her stay in Lily‘s apartment
disturbing Lily‘s privacy ―I decided my only choice—without permanently
moving onto Lily‘s couch and inevitably wrecking our friendship‖ (TDWP, 2003:
35). How important they had to value other‘s privacy was supported by Lily‘s
action. She helped Andrea to find an apartment.
Lily pulled through after three straight of letdowns. Since she
had a vested interest in getting me off her couch for good, she
emailed everyone she knew……..who were looking for a
roommate (TDWP, 2003: 37).
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They both know each other that they need to have privacy in their own room. A
room is one of the most private places for someone. It is a place where someone
can do everything he or she wants.
The importance of privacy and freedom performed in the US society also
can be seen in the passage which tells about the condition of Andrea‘s and Lily‘s
new apartment. After moving out from Shanti and Kendra‘s apartment, Andrea
decided to share an apartment with Lily. Lily was Andrea‘s best friend since they
were in eighth grade. Although they have been friends for a long time, individual
freedom still is a priority for them. As a proof, they still have separate room
when they share an apartment. They need their own room for themselves. They
keep the value of the importance of privacy. It shows that Individual freedom not
only deals about how we defend our freedom, but also how we can value other‘s
freedom.
Another passage of the novel supporting that room shows someone‘s
freedom is when Andrea knew that there was a weird guy staying in Lily‘s room.
Lily was drunk at that time and she was unconscious when there was a guy in her
room. Alex who was there at that time described him as follows ―he‘s scarylooking. Tattoos, piercings, wife-beater-the whole nine‖ (TDWP, 2003; 308). His
appearance was quite irritating for Andrea‘s convenience. It made her feel
insecured. Feeling irritated and knowing that the existence of this guy was
seemingly dangerous and annoying, Andrea willingly got him out of the
apartment.
…………‖Who the hell are you? This is my apartment, and I‘d
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like you to leave. Now!‖ ………
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―duuuuuuude. Chill out,‖ he breathed and inhaled again.
―It doesn‘t look like your friend here wants me to leave . . .‖
―She would want you to leave if she HAPPENED TO
BE CONSCIOUS, YOU ASSHOLE!‖ I screamed, horrified
that Lily had—in all likelihood—had sex wit this guy. ―I
assure you, I speak for both of us when I say GET THE FUCK
OUT OF OUR APARTMENT!‖ (TDWP, 2003; 311).
The apartment belongs to Andrea and Lily. While Lily is unconscious thus
Andrea takes charge to control the room. She feels something is threatening in her
room thus she feels she deserves to get rid of the man. It is her room. She can do
anything in her room then. What she has done represents the myth since no one
would let any interference happens to them. And everybody has the right to take
an action upon the interfering thing.
The other manifestations of the myth can be seen in Andrea‘s relationship
with Alex. After Andrea worked at Runway her personal life started to change.
She spent more time to accomplish her job and less time to be spent with her
friends, family and even lover. Every time she had an appointment with Alex she
always had a reason for canceling it. She hoped that everybody around her could
understand that her job was quite demanding. And she had to accomplish it since
she believed that if she succeeded here it would open her career in every
magazine publishing she wanted. It was The New Yorker. As a consequence, she
lost her time to be spent with them. But Alex thought that her attitude and her
loyalty to her job were overacted. ―Andy, this job isn‘t a job anymore, in case
you‘ve failed to notice—it‘s taken over your entire life!‖ (TDWP, 2003: 343) he
was disappointed with her. He thought that due to her job, she had ignored her
friend and family.
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…………… What about your parents? When was the last time
you actually saw them? And your sister? You do realize that
she just had her first baby and you haven‘t even seen your own
nephew yet, don‘t you? …………… ―What about Lily? Have
you not noticed that your best friend has turned into a raging
alcoholic?‖ (TDWP, 2003: 343-344).
They were having big arguments. Alex thought that her loyalty to her job
had ruined her life. But she insisted that she had no choice, since it was for her
career. She was ready to take the consequences and hoped they would understand
it. After the fight, they decided to take a break for their relationship. Few minutes
later her phone rang. It was Christian Collinsworth. He was a handsome guy who
ever met Andrea in one of the party at Runway. They both loved writing and
Christian was considered to be the up coming writer of their generation. She felt
lucky to know him since knowing one of important persons in journalism field
would make a benefit for her to reach her dreams to be a journalist. At first she
felt uncomfortable when she knew that it was Christian who phoned instead of
Alex. But after few seconds she then thought that it was fun to have a chat with
this guy. After the hard day and trouble with Alex her boyfriend she felt that she
had a right to have fun and be sweet to Christian on the phone.
…………one might think the warning flags would‘ve
gone up on this one. And they did—I just chose to
ignore them. It had been a very long day, and so I
allowed myself to think—just for a few minutes—that
he might, might, MIGHT actually be sincere. Screw it.
It felt good to talk to a noncritical male for a few
minutes, even if he did refuse to accept that I was
taken. I knew I wouldn‘t actually accept his invitation,
but a few minutes of innocent phone flirting wouldn‘t
hurt anyone (TDWP, 2003: 347).
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Though it was just in a few minutes, Andrea felt that she had the right to flirt each
other with Christian. She felt that she deserved to get this little freedom after her
tiring day.
Next is when Andrea was in Paris with Miranda, Alex told her that Lily
had an accident for driving drunk. Alex explained Andrea that Lily was now in a
very bad condition and told her that she should be back to America. Andrea did
not like the fact that Alex managed what she had to do.
―I said, when are you coming home?‖ when I was silent for
a moment, he continued. ―You are coming home, aren‘t you?
You‘re not seriously considering staying there while your best
friend on earth lies in a hospital bed, are you?‖
―What are you suggesting Alex? Are you suggesting that
this my fault because I didn‘t see it coming? That she‘s lying in
that hospital bed because I‘m in Paris right now? That if I had
known she was hanging out with Benjamin again none of this
would have happened? What? What exactly are you saying?‖ I
shrieked, all of the confusing emotions of the night boiling over
into a simple, urgent need to scream at someone else.
……………………..
―OK, Andy. I miss you. And I know you‘ll do the right
thing.‖ The line went dead before I could pounce all over that one.
Do the right thing? The right thing? What the hell did he
mean? I hated that he had just assumed I would jump on a plane
and race home because he told me to (TDWP, 2003: 403).
Alex‘s judgment to Andrea about what she had to do was very annoying
for her. It is very in contrast to her spirit of individual freedom. It has already
been her principle to always do anything based on what she wants and decides.
She does not like other person to manage what she has to do, including the
closest person to her, Alex, her boyfriend. Her hatred to Alex‘s behavior in this
case is not only because he manages what she has to do but also he judges what
the right thing to do is.
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Other manifestations of the myth can be seen in Andrea‘s relationship with
her family. The first manifestation is about Andrea‘s inconvenience to her parents.
After Andrea graduated from college, she had a holiday which ended in New
Delhi, India with amoeba dysentery attacked her. After coming back home, the
disease forced her to stay at home to feel better. Another two weeks staying at
home really made Andrea uncomfortable. As it is shown below:
It took four weeks for me to feel human again and another two
until I began to feel that living at home was miserable. Mom and
dad were great, but being asked where I was going every time I left
the house- or where I‘d been every time I returned – got old
quickly. I called Lily and asked if I could crash on the couch of her
tiny Harlem studio. Out of the kindness of her heart, she agreed
(TDWP, 2003: 13).
Andrea did not like being asked by her parents about where she had gone
out. It was very annoying for her. She wanted her parents not really care or worry
about where she was going. Feeling so annoyed with the question, then she
thought that she would get old quickly if everyday she would be asked with the
same question.
The myth of individual freedom states that everybody has the right to
choose his or her happiness. The concept of individual freedom and the desire to
be free of control and to destine their own life have been settled in the American‘s
minds. They desire the ability to control and destine their own life without
interference from anything or anyone such as government or society. Andrea‘s
expression above reflects the myth of individual freedom. She feels very annoyed
with her parents‘ questions asking where she will go and where she has been. She
perceives that the questions limiting her freedom to go everywhere she wants and
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interfering with her personal business. Her parents‘ questions are in contrast to the
myth, thus Andrea does not like it.
The manifestation of the myth deals with Andrea‘s inconvenience to her
parents is also shown in the passage below. After coming back from Paris, Andrea
stayed for a while in Connecticut. Here it can still be found how Andrea embodies
the myth. She was sleeping with Lily in her room and her mother was shouting at
them asking about their breakfast.
―Girls! My mother screamed again. ―Is anyone awake
up there? Anyone? I don‘t care if you‘re still sleeping, just
please tell me one way or other so I know how many waffles to
defrost!‖
―Please tell her one or other? I‘m going to kill her, Lil.‖
And then toward my still closed door: ―We‘re still sleeping,
can‘t you tell? Fast asleep, probably for hours more. We don‘t
hear the baby or you screaming, or anything else!‖ (TDWP,
2003: 414).
Feeling still sleepy, they did not want to be disturbed. They wanted to
sleep more. Andrea disliked and felt very irritated hearing her mother‘s
screaming. Though in fact she could hear what her mother was saying, she just
pretended that she could not hear it just to show that they needed convenience.
She told her that how much they still needed to sleep and did not want to be
disturbed. It is shown in the last sentences in the passage above ―We‘re still
sleeping, can‘t you tell? Fast asleep, probably for hours more. We don‘t hear the
baby or you screaming, or anything else!‖ (TDWP, 2003: 414).
The second manifestation of the myth is when Andrea stayed away from
her parents. Being accepted at Runway made Andrea stay in Manhattan and left
her parents. It meant that she would stay there alone without her parents‘ control.
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Americans believe that it reflects the individual freedom. They become free from
their parents control and live individually. The passage following shows Andrea‘s
expression about her moving to Manhattan ―Now I had a concrete reason to leave
Connecticut and move – all on my own, as a real adult would – to Manhattan and
make it home‖ (TDWP, 2006: 34).
The sentence in the passage above justifies how she really wants to move
to Manhattan. Having found a job makes Andrea completely become a real adult,
who will live independently, earn and spend money by herself. Americans believe
that at age 18 adolescents could live separately from their parents. They could
stay alone or stay with others such as their grandparents. They might think that at
this age freedom is coming. They can be far away from their parents‘ control and
be able to do what they want whenever they like it. Somehow it has a big
consequence. When they leave their parents they have to commit that they should
live independently. It means that if they have decided to leave their parents they
must have a secured financial since when they leave their parents they will need
some money to rent an apartment, to buy some food, daily needs etc
(http://www.helium.com/items/804451-are-you-really-ready-to-move-out-ofyour-parents-house).
Andrea was 23 years old when she decided to move out of her parents‘
house. The main reason she left her parents was she had found a job in town. It
made her financially secured and independent. Beside her inconvenience living
with her parents, this situation strengthened her will to leave her parents. What
she did shows the manifestation of the myth in the US society, the belief that
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adolescents can leave their parents when they are mature enough and able to live
independently.
The second character that would be analyzed is Lily Goodwin. The
information about Lily has been mentioned in the analysis above. So that we
could know how close the relationship between Lily and Andrea. The relationship
that they have maintained for many years relates to the fact that these two women
share something in common. They value each other the importance of individual
freedom in someone‘s life. It is clearly shown in the analysis above how these
two women manifest the myth. It was shown when they spent their weekend
together, how they shared rooms in their apartment and shared the same opinion
toward a guy who still lived dependently to his parents.
Another manifestation of the myth in the relationship between Lily and
Andrea is shown below:
―Look, Andy, let‘s drop it OK? ………………..it wasn‘t
so bad. Please, can we forget it? I‘m exhausted and I really need
a shower and my own bed.‖
……………………………..
―You there?‖ she asked after nearly thirty seconds,
during which I was desperately trying to find the words to
apologize or explain or something. ―Listen, I just got home. I
need sleep. Can I call you later?‖
―UM, uh, sure,‖ I managed. ―Lil, I‘m so sorry. If I‘ve
ever given you the impression you can‘t –―
―Andy, don‘t. nothing‘s wrong—I‘m fine, we‘re fine.
Let‘s just talk later.‖
―OK. Sleep well. Call me if I can do anything‖ (TDWP,
2003: 233).
Lily‘s relationship with her friend was going unwell at that time. And it
came along with her problem with her bad habit of drinking. Andrea called her
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want to know how Lily was after she had a trouble with a police and want to
apologize for abandoning her friend when she was in trouble. But Lily was very
exhausted at that time so she did not want to talk about it any further. She just
needed to be alone, took a rest and uninterrupted. So she asked Andrea to call her
later and made her sure that their relationship was still fine.
Next is when Lily was so angry because a woman from Elias-Clark
phoned her early in the morning and that disturbed her bed time. She still needed
to get more sleep at that time and the phone was completely bothering her. And
what made she become more mad was because the phone was not intended to her
but for Andrea who did not have a cell phone at that time. The situation is shown
below:
―Hello?‖ I mumbled, glancing at the clock and seeing that it was
7:15 A.M. who the hell would call at such an hour?
―It‘s me‘‖ barked a very angry-sounding Lily.
―Hi, is everything OK?‖
―Do you think I‘d be calling you if everything was OK? I‘m so
hungover I could die, and I finally stop puking long enough to fall
asleep,.and I‘m awakened by a scarily perky woman who says she worked
in HR at Elias-Clark. And she‘s looking for you. At seven-fifteen in the
freakin‘ morning, so call her back. And tell her to lose my number.‖
―Sorry, Lil. I gave them your number because I don‘t have a cell
yet. I can‘t believe she called so early! I wonder if that‘s good or bad?‖
………………
―Whatev. Good luck. Let me know how it goes. Just not in the next
couple hours, OK?
―Will do. Thanks. And sorry‖ (TDWP, 2003: 29).
Lily did not care how important the phone was for Andrea. She just got
really mad for having been disturbed. And she just said ―whatev‖ to Andrea who
actually caused her sleep disturbed, when Andrea tried to explain the reason why
to userto know how it went but she told
it happened. As a best friend she commit
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Andrea that she would be better call her in few more hours since she still needed
to get more sleep and did not want to be interrupted.
Another manifestation of the myth can be seen in Lily‘s style. When she
was a little girl, she already manifests the myth. It is shown when she was forced
by her grandmother to chop off her dirty dreadlocks and wear dress she did not
feel happy about it. She liked her hairstyle and she did not like to change it. And
little Lily seemed already have her choice of fashion. Wearing a dress was not her
favorite. Thus she had shown her dislikes of being forced by crying. And when
she grew up, she expressed her style which showed her identity. This following
passage shows Andrea‘s description of how Lily‘s outlook in her daily life, ―Lily,
herself not exactly fashion-conscious in her graduate student uniform of jeans,
ratty L.L.Bean sweaters, and hemp necklaces‖ (TDWP, 2003: 145). The clothes
she wore were quite simple. She chose the outfits that fit to herself and make her
feel comfortable. The hemp necklaces that she chose to be her favorite
accessories made her looks looked unique. The same as Andrea who has her own
definition about feeling beautiful and comfortable, Lily also has her own
definition about it. Other people might think that to be fashionable is a must if
you want to look beautiful and stylish. But different with Lily, she has her own
sense of fashion. Just by wearing jeans and sweater and hemp necklaces she
already feels perfect and comfortable with her look. She is sure that what she
wears already represents her personality which is unique and free-spirited.
The spirit of individual freedom embraced by Lilly can be seen in her free
lifestyle. Lily is a free-spirited woman who dislikes any rule in her life and enjoys
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her lifestyle which others might think that it is weird. She loves smoking,
drinking, and sleeping with many men in her life. Below is Andrea‘s description
about Lily which others might think it weird but for Lily it is not:
Lily had always been a big drinker, but it wasn‘t weird,
because Lily was a big in everything. She was the first one to
smoke pot in junior high and the first one to lose her virginity in
high school and the first to go skydiving in college. She loved
anyone and anything that didn‘t love her back, so long as it
made her feel alive (TDWP, 2003: 192).
Lily‘s youth describes her spirit who really wants to try something new
and different in her life. It already becomes Lily‘s lifestyle. And below is Lily‘s
expression showing how much she does not like rule and how she expects
someone else to enjoy their life like she does:
―I just don‘t understand how you can play by so many
rules,‖ she‘d shot instantly. ―Where‘s the fun in all your
perfectly planned, mapped-out, rule-filled life? Live a little,
Andy! Feel something! It‘s good to be alive!‖ (TDWP, 2003:
192).
Lily‘s lifestyle which does not like any rules or limitations in her life
somehow manifests the myth. She wants to be free of control in her life and she
can decide what is good for her life and what can make she feel happy. She
thought that life with rule and plan was no fun and to feel alive in your life you
have to be free in doing many things. She has her own way in enjoying her life
that includes doing something which sometimes endangers her life such as
smoking, drinking alcohol and having free sex. Below is the passage showing that
she likes smoking:
I hung up with Emily after making a good effort to sound
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sincerely sympathetic and commit
found Lily
stretched out on the couch,
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smoking a cigarette and snipping a clear liquid that was
definitely not water from a cocktail glass.
………………..
―I know you wouldn‘t care,‖ she said taking a leisurely
drag off her cigarette. ―I‘m procrastinating and it helps me to
concentrate.‖
―What do you have due?‖………….
…………..‖An article for some totally random, esoteric journal
that no one will ever read but I still have to write, just so I can
say I‘m published.‖
―That‘s annoying. When it‘s due?‖
―Tomorrow? For real?‖ (TDWP, 2003: 337-338).
Lily‘s study seemed like going unwell. Her task which had to be
accomplished by tomorrow had not finished yet. This made her under pressure.
And to help feel better she smoked. Lily was not actually a smoker but this time
she smoked just to help her to face her problem. As explain in the previous
analysis, how a person chooses to smoke just to make them feel better though
somehow it is dangerous. It manifests the myth since we can decide what we like
to do, no pressure from the others. As what Lily does, she felt free to smoke to
help her more relax in doing her task and she did it without other‘s interference.
Unlike her habit of smoking which is not bad, Lily‘s habit of drinking
tends to be an addiction to it. Below is the passage showing her habit of drinking:
At that moment, Lily announced that she had a plate of waffles
and a cup of coffee for me. I walked into the kitchen and took
the food. She was shipping a Bloody Mary. Ugh. It was a
Sunday morning. How could she be drinking? (TDWP, 2003:
107).
The passage above describes how alcohol already becomes part of Lily‘s life;
how she becomes truly an alcoholic. Andrea was wondering how she could drink
in early Sunday morning. Sunday should be a day to be off duty so we can be
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relaxed. But for Lily, it seems like that she needed alcohol to start her day which
already had been a habit for her. As well as smoking which the use of it can harm
our health, drinking alcohol can be worse than it. It does not only harm the
individual but it also can damage the relationships and society in general in terms
of
violence,
crime,
accidents
and
drink
driving
(http://www.knowyourlimits.info/TheEffectsOfAlcohol.aspx). Though Lily knew
the consequences of drinking alcohol, she just kept doing it, because she liked
and enjoyed it, she felt free of doing it. However, addiction to alcohol is not a
good habit and it eventually caused her to drink driving and put her in a serious
accident. As shown in the passage below:
―A car accident, honey. A rather serious one, I‘m afraid.
Lily was driving—there was also a guy in the car, someone
from school…….(TDWP, 2003: 397).
……….. Why had Lily run a red light and then tried to drive
south on an avenue that only ran north?.................
―Andy, her blood alcohol level was nearly twice the
legal limit.‖ (TDWP, 2003: 402).
It is important to know on what levels we have reach the limits. Lily seems like
that she already broke her limit of drinking, so it caused her to get a big accident.
This accident caused her to be comatose, and hospitalized for some weeks.
After healing from the accident, Lily decided to stay in Andrea‘s house,
besides she wanted to get out of the city for a while and was free from all the
questions and gossip that she had to face as soon as she saw anyone she knew
(TDWP, 2003: 416). Her decision to be free of some interrupting things such as
gossip and questions relating to her bad experience manifests the myth. What she
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wanted to have now is a space to rearrange her life, heal the wound after the
accident, and recover her bad habit of drinking.
Next is how Lily expresses her spirit of individual freedom shown in her
lifestyle which likes free sex. Below is the passage showing it:
―Hey, bad time?‖ she asked, sounding excited. I looked at my
watch and saw that she should‘ve been in class.
―Um, sort of. I‘m on my second coffee run, which is
really great. I‘m really, really enjoying myself, just in case you
were wondering. What‘s up? Don‘t you have class now?‖
―Yeah, but I went with Pink-Shirt Boy again last night
and we each drank a few too many margaritas. Like, eight too
many. He‘s still passed out here, so I can‘t just leave him. But
that‘s not why I‘m calling (TDWP, 2003: 169).
―She was out with some guy last night that she referred
as Tongue Ring Boy—do we know who that is?‖ (TDWP, 2003:
229).
―Lily, just imagine how drunk you had to be to agree to
not only have sex with someone who looks like that, but to bring
him back to our apartment‖ (TDWP, 2003: 313).
The first passage describes that Lily spent the night with a guy called
Pink-Shirt Boy but then in few days later she spent the night with a different guy
called Tongue Ring boy as it is shown in the second passage. While in the third
passage she had sex with a weird guy. His appearance was so miserable that
Andrea who never before protested to Lily with whom she would have a date,
shocked to know that her friend had slept with this weird guy. Lily enjoys her
free lifestyle very much, to have sex with many men though others will think
negatively about it. She did it on behalf of one reason. Her boyfriend at the
college betrayed her. She caught him sleeping with two girls and from that time
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she already committed to her self that she would go out with some guys and
would never love them. So in doing it, she decided not to have a long term of
relationship so that she will not fall in love with one of the guys. She held her
principle and enjoyed doing it. She enjoyed having a date with some guys
without having any commitment to one of them.
Another manifestation of the myth can be seen in Lily‘s relationship with
her study. Different with Andrea who struggles to reach her dreams to work at
journalist field and defends her individual freedom under the pressure of the
people at Runway, Lily struggles to get Ph.D. in Russian Literature at Columbia
and has to work to afford it by herself since her grandmother barely affords her
(TDWP, 2003: 68). Finishing a master degree is already a hard thing to
accomplish. Moreover we have to work hard to afford it. It is completely not an
easy thing to do. But Lily just kept doing that. And the main reason why she did it
was just because she loved it. She loved Russian culture since her eighth-grade.
She read all the masterpiece of Nabokov, Tolstoy, Gogol, and Chekov. It resulted
that when she was 17 years old and applied to Brown University to work with a
specific Russian literature, the professor who interviewed her declared her one of
the most well read and passionate students of Russian literature he had ever met
(TDWP, 2003: 68).
The myth of individual freedom has strong relation to the desire of
someone to reach their goal of life. Lily had a strong passionate to Russian culture
and literature thus she really wanted to learn about it deeper. Having Ph.D. title in
Russian literature was her goal of life. So even though she had to work hard in
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doing it she still felt happy and enjoyed it. She feels free that she has a right to
destine and choose her goal of life and free to do any kinds of effort that she has
to do in reaching her dream to be true. Though her best friend, Andrea, wondered
why she did it, why she wanted to be exhausted in her life doing two things,
studying and working in the same time, she just went for it and enjoyed her life.
After her trouble with alcohol and miserable things happened to her study,
luckily Lily still can continue her study. Andrea‘s parents had convinced Lily to
meet the dean at Columbia. At first they thought that it would be a nightmare to
meet the dean but in the other hand it ended up being a good step (TDWP, 2003:
416).
He not only agreed to let Lily withdraw without failing in the
middle of the semester, but signed the approval for the bursar‘s
office saying that she could just reapply for her tuition next
spring (TDWP, 2003: 416).
Though in the middle she had been troubled with her bad habit of drinking which
consequently disturbed her study until finally it cause her into a serious accident,
she still had a chance to continue her dream and she did not want to miss that. She
took the chance and would continue to reach her Ph.D. title as she dreamt of. It
manifests the myth since everyone has the right to choose what is best in their
life. No matter what she had been through in her life, she chose to arise from her
past and move on to reach her goal of life.
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CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
A. Conclusion
The novel “The Devil Wears Prada” written by Lauren Weisberger reflects
the American myth of individual freedom which is highly valued by the American
society. It is reflected by Andrea Sachs and Lily Goodwin through their lifestyle,
their relationship with people around them and their way to reach their goal of
life.
From the analysis in the previous chapter, it can be seen that the
relationship between both characters and the people around them represent how
the American society embraces the myth of individual freedom. It also can be
seen from the transformation of both characters while they are defending their
spirit of individual freedom. After working at Runway, Andrea Sachs has fashion
and personal life transformation. She turns from an unfashionable into a
fashionable woman, from a family loving and caring person into a workaholic
woman who ignores the closest people around her. Her bright career does not go
along with her personal life. She is faced with a hard choice, between her career
and her family. In the middle of the novel she is portrayed as a person who
challenges the mainstream society but in the end of the novel she is portrayed to
follow the mainstream society’s value. She chooses her family rather than her
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career. She leaves her career in Runway which is only one month to go to a
brighter career and back to her family then starts her career in a journalism field.
Meanwhile, Lily Goodwin who has very free spirited lifestyle changes into an
alcoholic which eventually ruins her life. She suffered the bad effect of her bad
habit, drinking alcohol, which somehow shows her spirit of individual freedom.
Her free lifestyle is often in contrast to the society’s value. But in the end of the
novel she is also portrayed following the mainstream society’s value by having an
alcohol counseling and rearranging her study.
From the experience of these two characters can be seen that the exercise
of the myth individual freedom in America often contradict with the exercise of
American democracy. It already becomes the conflicting beliefs in the America
society. At the same time they want to be a society who puts first their
individualism, but also wants to have harmonious community. These basic beliefs
and values are already learned at early life of the American society. The belief and
value they have eventually influence them to take action upon the problem they
have. Andrea and Lily are raised in a circumstance which shows affection of
people around them. Thus, it is portrayed that while they are defending the
individual freedom, they find some problems with their personal life and the way
they solve their problem is by going back to the family or in other words to the
expectation of the mainstream society. The novel is a popular culture product thus
the writer creates it to go along with the values embraced by the mainstream
society.
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B. Recommendation
The research analyzed a novel entitled The Devil Wears Prada reflecting
the myth of American individual freedom. The novel is an interesting novel to be
analyzed. It does not only represent the American social life but also the issues of
women’s life. This research focused more on the values embraced by the
mainstream of American society rather than on the issues of women’s life. It is
recommended to other researchers to analyze the issues of women’s life in this
novel or in the film with the same title since this novel has been filmed. Hopefully
the research may become a reference for the next research in understanding the
American society.
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the myth of individual freedom reflected in the novel “the devil wears

Transcription

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