Two Page Lit Response: Bernice Bobs Her Hair

Siarra Williams
January 21, 2009
AP English III Period 11
Bernice Bobs Her Hair Two Page Literary Response

In the story Bernice Bobs Her Hair, the author uses realism to describe the women in the story. The characters are vividly described and their dialogue just intrigues me more and I find out more about the character’s personality that way. Marjorie is described as being this shallow girl who is only interested in people’s looks and their popularity status. She is, what we call in the modern days a “mean girl.” She treats those who she considers to be less attractive as though they were beneath her. She was insensitive, sarcastic, egocentric, sidity, and conniving. She was really mean-spirited to her cousin, Bernice. Every conversation that she had with Bernice, she would have a negative comment to say or a rude put-down. Even though they were related, Marjorie did not treat her as family at all. It was as if Bernice were her own charity case. Marjorie showed no respect for her just because she was considered boring, the exact opposite of what Marjorie represents. The author uses the character Marjorie to represent the new age woman; the woman that was into dancing, being courted, showing skin, and having fun.
Another character, Bernice, was also vividly described. She, as was stated earlier, was the exact opposite of Marjorie. She was quiet, smart, articulate, naïve, sensitive, boring, rich, reserved, and conservative. She spent time reading books rather than being courted by guys. Bernice was nice and polite and she was fine with her status in the world. She came from money and that’s all that she knew. Back in Eau Claire, she was known for that and that was all that mattered. She did not see the purpose in dressing and acting like Majorie because she was unfamiliar with Marjorie’s way of life. Bernice represented the old woman. The woman that was very conservative, showed little skin, and spent time serving her husband making sure he is happy.