The Girl with Bangs

.In “The Girl with Bangs”, Zadie Smith uses characterization to subtly indicate that men and women can contradict society’s gender roles.

According to our society, women are graceful creatures. Charlotte “[seems to be] stumbling” (Smith, 189). She definitely isn’t graceful, breaking a stereotype of women. Our society also claims that women should be clean and organized, however, Charlotte is the complete opposite; another stereotype out the window. The narrator describes her room as “a filthy cocoon”, as well as saying they’re “ankle deep in rubbish” (Smith, 190). Apparently, women also have long hair, but the narrator mentions that Charlotte “[shaves] her head” (Smith, 192). Females usually care about their appearance, but Charlotte doesn’t. She has this “I don’t care” attitude, “[dressing] in rags” (Smith, 189). Charlotte seems more male than female, and she’s breaking the “rules” of society that women are “supposed’ to adhere to.

The narrator, a character in the story, also breaks the “rules” of gender roles. She discloses that she ingrates herself into Charlotte’s life, “[sitting] next to her at lunch”, “[befriending] her friends and then her”, doing “all the old boy tricks” (Smith, 189). She even states that she “[becomes] a boy” (Smith, 189). Women do have a tendency to squeeze themselves into the lives of their friends. However, her intentions were different from an average woman; she wants to romantically connect with Charlotte. She’s also critical of Charlotte and brutally honest, describing her as “[not an] intellectual” because every book that Charlotte receives, “she [treats them how] a kid treats a Christmas present” (Smith, 190). Women aren’t so blunt and honest, nor critical of others. They normally “tiptoe” around whatever issue(s) they’re having. Women also try their best to understand everyone’s views and struggles. The narrator clearly didn’t get that memo, and if she did, she pointedly ignores it. The narrator, like Charlotte, is more male than female.

There’s also Maurice and his behaviors. He, like the other two characters, also breaks society’s gender rules. Maurice is kind of a pretty boy, having “a jawline that [seems] in fashion” (Smith, 189), he’s “[tan] and dressed… [in] a white suit”, “bangs and tousled hair, slightly long” (Smith, 191). Men are “supposed” to wear suits, usually short-cropped hair. He cares about his appearance more than the average man. Also, he has “a well-paid TV job in Thailand” (Smith, 189), but he returns to “marry [Charlotte]” (Smith, 191). Most men, in our society, would go after the money. Maurice is obviously different in this respect as well. Maurice isn’t afraid to be vulnerable; he has a “man-to-man” with the narrator with “tears in his eyes” (Smith, 192). Usually, men don’t show emotions, but Maurice is yet again different from most men.

As outliers, these characters display their differences, regardless of who takes note. Their differentiation from the “normal” behaviors of men and women proves the point that some of them contradict society’s “rules” for gender roles.

Reference:

Smith, Zadie. The Girl with Bangs. McSweeney's, issue 6, 2001.