Bernice Bobs Her Hair by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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This story is a combination of irony and comedy. The irony occurs with the sudden reversals in the character's behaviors. With the story being set in the summer, with young people flirting and dancing, one might expect a happy ending with people pairing off successfully. That is not what we get. The comedy aspect is depicted by the furor over the length of hair. The hair represents the differences between the old and new societies; between the rigid social rules of the older generation, and the desire to make their own decisions from the younger one.

The prologue is purposely long so that the reader understands the strict social rules and expectations imposed especially on the young. The main characters are introduced, as well as the first conflict, Bernice's unpopularity.

A case could be made that there are two crises in this story: first when Bernice is forced to cut her hair, and again, when she takes her revenge by cutting Marjorie's hair. I prefer the second one, because I can see Bernice acting as her own Deus Ex Machina. I believe this is shown when she finds her inner strength and becomes the director of her own fate. No longer the meek and mild country cousin, dependant on the approval of others for her feelings of self-worth, she takes matters into her own hands and teaches the two-faced, cold-hearted Marjorie a lesson she sorely needs.

I did consider that Marjorie could be the DEM because it was her cruelty that allowed Bernice to break free of conventional expected behavior and become a self-directed human being, but the timing doesn't seem right. Or, is it possible for the antagonist to be the DEM?

The mirrors allow people to speak their minds without having to face the person they are talking to, directly, perhaps making it easier to say uncomfortable, or socially polite responses they don't really mean. Marjorie is looking in the mirror when she tells Bernice she doesn't have a chance with Warren (102). Later, while trying to put on a brave front, Bernice looks into the mirror rather than face Marjorie, while she tells her, "I like it," (107).

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