Emerging in the mid 1990s, the chicklit genre can be defined as a form of women's literature that appeals to women, written by women, and evidently about the women lifestyle. These novels are described as “a type of fiction , typically focusing on the social lives and relationships of young professional women, and often aimed at readers with similar experiences” (Rende, 3). Both Helen Fielding's 1996 novel, Bridget Jone's Diary, and Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 novel, The Devil Wears Prada, can be categorized in the chick lit genre today. The Devil Wears Prada resembles the course text, Bridget Jone's Diary in many ways. Similarities between the two works will be examined regarding the qualities of a chick lit plot, the two female protagonists
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Not only is there a central conflict to the heroine on finding the right career and the right attitude, but this idea of finding 'Mr. Right' is heavily involved. In chick lit novels, “the heroine will, at some point, be involved with a man who is all wrong for her, but she of course fails to realize this until it is too late” (Yardley, 12). This sequentially allows the heroine to realize two things: that she is better off without the male figure or, she figures out that she is actually in love with someone else. In both works, the heroine is involved with a male figure. In Bridget Jone's Diary, Bridget mistakenly thinks that in order to be a successful woman, a woman must be married and be a mother. The pressure to find a husband is scary for Bridget and she states that she has a “fear of dying alone” (Fielding, 20). This desire to find a husband is influenced on Bridget's mom, as she tries to introduce Bridget to Marc Darcy. An old childhood playmate. As soon as Bridget comes to the realization that Daniel is completely wrong for her, she starts to fall for Mr. Darcy. He represents a “paradigm of order, common sense and rationality” in Bridget''s life compared to her, “habitual faux pass and social misconduct” (Rende, 17). This theme of romance outlines the hetero-norm of chick lit conventions. In addition, Chick lit novels revolve around “the heroine’s life taking a drastic turn for the worst, which the heroine must then work her way out of” (Yardley, 14). Typically, “this could involve the heroine losing her apartment, being fired from her job, or breaking up with her boyfriend” (Yardley, 14). On the contrary, in The Devil Wears Prada, Andy begins the novel with a boyfriend and then breaks up with him by the end. Rather than, “finding love and romance in the workplace”, Andy loses her boyfriend “due to her job’s consumption of her identity and energy”
Not only is there a central conflict to the heroine on finding the right career and the right attitude, but this idea of finding 'Mr. Right' is heavily involved. In chick lit novels, “the heroine will, at some point, be involved with a man who is all wrong for her, but she of course fails to realize this until it is too late” (Yardley, 12). This sequentially allows the heroine to realize two things: that she is better off without the male figure or, she figures out that she is actually in love with someone else. In both works, the heroine is involved with a male figure. In Bridget Jone's Diary, Bridget mistakenly thinks that in order to be a successful woman, a woman must be married and be a mother. The pressure to find a husband is scary for Bridget and she states that she has a “fear of dying alone” (Fielding, 20). This desire to find a husband is influenced on Bridget's mom, as she tries to introduce Bridget to Marc Darcy. An old childhood playmate. As soon as Bridget comes to the realization that Daniel is completely wrong for her, she starts to fall for Mr. Darcy. He represents a “paradigm of order, common sense and rationality” in Bridget''s life compared to her, “habitual faux pass and social misconduct” (Rende, 17). This theme of romance outlines the hetero-norm of chick lit conventions. In addition, Chick lit novels revolve around “the heroine’s life taking a drastic turn for the worst, which the heroine must then work her way out of” (Yardley, 14). Typically, “this could involve the heroine losing her apartment, being fired from her job, or breaking up with her boyfriend” (Yardley, 14). On the contrary, in The Devil Wears Prada, Andy begins the novel with a boyfriend and then breaks up with him by the end. Rather than, “finding love and romance in the workplace”, Andy loses her boyfriend “due to her job’s consumption of her identity and energy”