i had a gay time reading Bernice Bobs Her Hair

What was going on in America during the 1920’s? First off, World War I had just ended prior to the beginning of the 1920s, and usually war brought a change to society. The Jazz Age describes the period from 1918-1929; the years after the end of World War I, continuing through the Roaring Twenties and ending with the rise of the Great Depression. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald’s short story, Bernice Bobs Her Hair, showed how he depicted society during this period. Two literary devices that can be determined from the story are Irony and Symbolism. Both are key in showing how women and social trends have changed and how moral values are becoming lost.


Irony is clearly present in this story. It is most evident when the characters seem to swap their behavior. One minute Bernice is dull and everyone dislikes her, then all of a sudden she becomes the center of attention and all the guys want to see what she’s all about. The same thing somewhat occurs with Marjorie; first she was having a good time and enjoying the high life, then she’s concocting harsh and evil schemes to destroy her cousin. These role reversals also occur with some of the young stags in the story. The fact that all of this change in the social pyramid was unexpected and that’s what makes it irony. Another source of irony is the fact that this is the summertime and everyone is supposed to be enjoying themselves and happily dating and partying, but this is not the case. Drama puts a wrinkle in the fun and this was unexpected. The ending of this story is also ironic, many not have expected the sweet and pleasant Bernice to commit an act of revenge such as she did, but then again maybe it was considering Marjorie’s cut throat actions. Fitzgerald use of irony is makes this story quite funny and entertaining, but he relates it to the current times by his use of symbolism.


Bernice Bobs Her Hair contains much symbolism. Fitzgerald uses this story to create an image of the women in the 1920s. Bernice represents an older, classier group of women, while Marjorie represents the modern women of the 1920s. Fitzgerald feels that it is a difficult transition for the Bernices of America to become the Marjories of the modern era. The hair is also very symbolic. 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. Bernice and Marjorie are like to rams clashing, this is Fitzgerald’s view of women and society during the Jazz Age.


B.B.H. gives people a view on how times were changing during that time period. Fitzgerald wrote about how he felt towards the way society was interacting. Women are his main focus and they seem to be going through a rough time during the 1920s.