Analysis of the Changes in Character of Andrea in The Devil Wears Prada

Andrea’s commitment to her work life destroys her relationship with her loved ones as she no longer has time for them. Firstly, due to Miranda’s demands, Andrea’s personal life begins to crumble under the weight of her career commitments. Andrea no longer has time for her boyfriend Nate, and Nate confronts her as he says, “ Yeah well it doesn't seem like you were all worried. I ask you one time to call me at a time that’s convenient for me…” ( Dir. Frankel). Andrea gets so caught up in achieving her position and respect in the fashion industry that she ends up screwing over all the people who matter in her life.

This impacts her personality, as she early in the movie mentioned that she would never change and put her work before her boyfriend, but Andrea has failed to keep her promises, as she already has lost all the people that mattered in her life. No longer having the people who supported her before, makes Andrea lose herself even more, as she only pays attention to her work and slowly slips out of Nate’s life. Conversely, Andrea tries to keep the friends and values she has known and cherished, but now seems to fund them in conflict with her work life. As she confronts her boyfriend Nate, he reminds her what she has done, as he mentions, “ Well, anytime you feel like getting back to reality, you know where to find me”(Dir. Frankel).

When Andrea changes her style, she has become more confident. As this is demonstrated through her commitment to her job. The commitment to her work is shown when Andrea only focuses on her work and fails to balance her personal life with her work life. Since she changes the way she dresses, her personality is also changed, however, Nate does not prefer her change, as he prefers the way Andrea had been before the transformation. It impacts the love for her because he had fallen in love with the old Andrea but now he no longer knows how to feel towards her.

Since the accentuation of Andrea’s apparel was shifted in the new community is changed, she becomes the “Runway girl”. From the aforementioned ideas above, it is well described that the film illustrates the enormous influence on fashion to change her identity.

Although the film demonstrates how Andrea has lost the support of her loved ones, the book also shows this through her actions and commitment to her boss Miranda. In addition, Andrea discovers that working for Miranda uses all of her time and usually most of her energy. Alex no longer can deal with Andrea, so he tells her what he feels, as he states, “Andy this job isn't just a job anymore, in case, you’ve failed to notice---- it’s taken over your entire life!” ( Weisberger 343). Even, after being constantly reminded, Andrea still fails to recognize the truth. She is so caught up in the fantasy, that all she cares about is her status and her work.

The job is consuming all of her time which makes her not have time for her boyfriend. Constantly, being tired after work makes her not want to put effort into pleasing her loved ones. Lastly, Andrea is no longer close to her best friend, Lily. Lily and Andrea have been friends since elementary school. They were planning to buy a new apartment and the day of the housewarming. Andrea no longer can come as she has to serve Miranda, Andrea tells Lily, “Lily, be reasonable. I couldn’t leave the office right now for an emergency heart transplant if I needed one, without getting fired. How can I come to look at an apartment?”(Weisberger 224).

Andrea has changed her priorities by now. She starts to put Miranda before anything else. She has already lost the support of her boyfriend but now is starting to lose her best friend. Andrea no longer is apart of Lily’s life and does not even know what she is up to. At the beginning of the Novel, it is showed that Andrea is a big sister to Lily, but sooner Andrea has no time for her, so she starts to make bad decisions, and lately has gotten into so much trouble. Andrea has now lost her moral support completely. No longer have the time for them, makes her loss the strong bond she had with them.