This story is a combination of irony and comedy. The irony occurs with the sudden reversals in the character's behaviors. With the story being set in the summer, with young people flirting and dancing, one might expect a happy ending with people pairing off successfully. That is not what we get. The comedy aspect is depicted by the furor over the length of hair. 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.

The prologue is purposely long so that the reader understands the strict social rules and expectations imposed especially on the young. The main characters are introduced, as well as the first conflict, Bernice's unpopularity.

A case could be made that there are two crises in this story: first when Bernice is forced...