Bernice Bobs Her Hair

Bernice, a wealthy, young Wisconsinite, travels to her aunt’s house to visit her cousin Marjorie. The pair have trouble connecting, however, and Bernice soon finds out that her cousin thinks she’s putting a damper on her social life. Bernice doesn’t know how to act at parties, so with her cousin’s help, she turns into a true society girl. Soon she is dancing and flirting, often suggesting she has plans to bob her hair—the trademark of the “liberated” woman of the time. However, as Bernice descends deeper into her new lifestyle, the fickle nature of the social scene becomes increasingly evident.

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote “Bernice Bobs Her Hair” based on letters he had sent to his younger sister providing similar advice on how to become a more attractive society girl. It was originally printed in the Saturday Evening Post in 1920.

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