She-Devil
Ruth is a wife and mother who tries to please her husband (Bob) but finds him pulling away and spending more time at the office than at home. When he begins an affair with a famous romance novelist (Mary) and leaves Ruth to raise their kids, she decides she's had enough of playing nice docile housewife. Ruth endeavors to show Bob and Mary the truth about themselves and each other, while creating a new successful life of her own.
The film underperformed commercially against its moderate budget of $20.0M, earning $15.4M globally (-23% loss).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
She-Devil (1989) showcases strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Susan Seidelman's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 39 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Ruth Patchett
Mary Fisher
Bob Patchett
Nicolette
Hooper
Main Cast & Characters
Ruth Patchett
Played by Roseanne Barr
A frumpy housewife and devoted mother who transforms into a vengeful force after her husband leaves her for a romance novelist.
Mary Fisher
Played by Meryl Streep
A glamorous, wealthy romance novelist who seduces Ruth's husband and represents everything Ruth is not.
Bob Patchett
Played by Ed Begley Jr.
Ruth's husband, a weak-willed accountant who leaves his family for the exciting life offered by Mary Fisher.
Nicolette
Played by Linda Hunt
A young woman and aspiring novelist who becomes Ruth's accomplice in her revenge schemes.
Hooper
Played by Sylvia Miles
A wealthy, elderly man who becomes romantically involved with Mary Fisher and later with Ruth.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Ruth Patchett manages her chaotic household as a frumpy, overweight housewife, catering to her ungrateful accountant husband Bob and their two children. She is the ultimate doormat, constantly striving to please while being dismissed and embarrassed by Bob.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Bob announces he is leaving Ruth for Mary Fisher, calling Ruth a "she-devil" as he abandons her and the children. Ruth's entire world—her identity as wife and mother, her financial security, her status quo—collapses in an instant.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Ruth makes her irreversible choice: she dumps the children unannounced on Bob and Mary at the pink mansion, her first deliberate act of revenge. This active decision launches her campaign to reclaim power and destroy Bob's perfect new life. Mary's fantasy begins to crack under real motherhood., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False victory: Ruth is thriving (working, confident, independent) while Mary's perfect life disintegrates under the stress of children and Bob's burdens. The power dynamic has completely reversed. Stakes raise as Ruth realizes her revenge is succeeding, but she begins to want more than just Bob's destruction—she wants her own empire., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 75 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Ruth targets the final item on her list: "Freedom." Bob faces legal consequences (likely jail for tax fraud), loses all money and respect, and Mary kicks him out. Bob has nothing left—the whiff of death hangs over his complete personal and professional annihilation. Ruth's revenge is complete but feels hollow., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 79 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Ruth realizes her true victory isn't Bob's suffering—it's her transformation into a successful, independent woman. She synthesizes her newfound business acumen, her network of loyal women, and her hard-won self-respect. She sees that empowerment, not revenge, is the real prize. She is ready to claim her new life., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
She-Devil's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping She-Devil against these established plot points, we can identify how Susan Seidelman utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish She-Devil within the comedy genre.
Susan Seidelman's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Susan Seidelman films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. She-Devil takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Susan Seidelman filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Susan Seidelman analyses, see Desperately Seeking Susan.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ruth Patchett manages her chaotic household as a frumpy, overweight housewife, catering to her ungrateful accountant husband Bob and their two children. She is the ultimate doormat, constantly striving to please while being dismissed and embarrassed by Bob.
Theme
At a dinner party featuring romance novelist Mary Fisher, the theme of what makes a woman valuable emerges through contrasts between Ruth (ordinary, devoted, invisible) and Mary (glamorous, successful, admired). The question of women's worth beyond traditional roles is posed.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Ruth's miserable existence: her thankless domestic labor, Bob's growing infatuation with Mary Fisher at the book event, and the vast gulf between Ruth's drab reality and Mary's pink-mansion fantasy world. Bob becomes Mary's accountant and begins an affair.
Disruption
Bob announces he is leaving Ruth for Mary Fisher, calling Ruth a "she-devil" as he abandons her and the children. Ruth's entire world—her identity as wife and mother, her financial security, her status quo—collapses in an instant.
Resistance
Ruth struggles with abandonment, depression, and mounting bills while Bob settles into Mary's luxurious mansion. She debates whether to accept victimhood or fight back. She has an epiphany: she will systematically destroy Bob's life by taking away his Home, Family, Career, and Freedom—writing these four targets on a list.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ruth makes her irreversible choice: she dumps the children unannounced on Bob and Mary at the pink mansion, her first deliberate act of revenge. This active decision launches her campaign to reclaim power and destroy Bob's perfect new life. Mary's fantasy begins to crack under real motherhood.
Mirror World
Ruth connects with Garcia at the employment agency and begins building relationships with other marginalized, overlooked women. This B-story network of female solidarity represents the thematic counterpoint: women supporting women rather than competing for male approval.
Premise
The fun and games of revenge: Ruth systematically destroys Bob's "Home" (trashing/selling the house), "Family" (the children wreak havoc on Mary's pristine life), and "Career" (exposing his financial misdeeds, destroying his accounting practice). Simultaneously, Ruth reinvents herself: gaining employment, confidence, and building a network of empowered women.
Midpoint
False victory: Ruth is thriving (working, confident, independent) while Mary's perfect life disintegrates under the stress of children and Bob's burdens. The power dynamic has completely reversed. Stakes raise as Ruth realizes her revenge is succeeding, but she begins to want more than just Bob's destruction—she wants her own empire.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies: Mary suffers writer's block and publisher demands while trapped with Bob and the kids. Bob loses everything and becomes pathetically dependent on Mary, who resents him. Ruth builds her business empire with her collective of women, but complications arise. Bob and Mary's affair turns toxic as both face ruin.
Collapse
Ruth targets the final item on her list: "Freedom." Bob faces legal consequences (likely jail for tax fraud), loses all money and respect, and Mary kicks him out. Bob has nothing left—the whiff of death hangs over his complete personal and professional annihilation. Ruth's revenge is complete but feels hollow.
Crisis
Ruth processes what she has accomplished and what it means. The cost of revenge becomes clear, and she confronts the question: what does she really want now? Has destroying Bob's life truly healed her, or has she become something more through the process of fighting back?
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ruth realizes her true victory isn't Bob's suffering—it's her transformation into a successful, independent woman. She synthesizes her newfound business acumen, her network of loyal women, and her hard-won self-respect. She sees that empowerment, not revenge, is the real prize. She is ready to claim her new life.
Synthesis
The finale: Ruth has built a successful business with her women's collective and become wealthy and influential in her own right. Bob is left with nothing, facing prison or complete humiliation. Mary's perfect facade is shattered. Ruth's list (Home, Family, Career, Freedom) is fully executed, but she has also created something positive from her pain.
Transformation
Ruth in her new life: successful, powerful, surrounded by the women she has helped, transformed physically and emotionally. The closing image mirrors the opening but shows complete transformation—she is no longer the doormat housewife but a phoenix risen from the ashes of her old life. Bob is forgotten, irrelevant.