"Bernice Bob's Her Hair" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

After reading this story, I thought that Fitzgerald could have made the same point with the same characters and the same story line in about one and a half pages. He did, however, manage to do a decent job at showing the readers that girls can be two-faced, backstabbing, careless, individuals. No matter where you turn someone is always judging you. Although no one is perfect (whether it’s physically, mentally, or emotionally), there are still those people that feel it is necessary to find one thing wrong with you and then ridicule you for it.

"Don't I look all right?" asked Bernice, "No; for instance, you never take care of your eyebrows. They're black and lustrous…” responds Marjorie. This excerpt from “Bernice Bobs Her Hair” by F. Scott Fitzgerald signifies the pure narcissistic attitude harbored by Marjorie, Bernice’s cousin. Identity is basically a representation of one’s self. In order to grasp one’s full character you must verbally, mentally, and physically understand them as a person. Fitzgerald, on the other hand, really only presents the negative physical characteristics of Bernice through her cousin Marjorie’s viewpoint.

“If I'd been irretrievably ugly I'd never have forgiven my parents for bringing me into the world.” This statement made by Marjorie is a perfect example of how cruel of a person she is. It also gives the reader a pessimistic view of identity by portraying Bernice as an unattractive woman.

"Because I'm considering it. It's such a sure and easy way of attracting attention." This statement, made by Bernice, illustrates how vulnerable she is to Marjorie and how scornful Marjorie is to Bernice. Marjorie is portrayed as an egotistical being, only caring about herself and the attention she receives from boys, especially Warren. Since Bernice is so “unattractive”, Marjorie is ashamed to be around her so she persuades her into cutting her hair.

At the end of the story, the reader finds out that Bernice, enraged, goes into Marjorie’s bedroom while she is sleeping and cuts off her pigtails. She then runs out the door screaming, "Scalp the selfish thing!” and then throws her pigtails on Warren’s porch in hopes of humiliating her even more. This represents Bernice’s feelings towards Marjorie. She knows she is selfish and wants to get back at her for allowing her to cut her hair.