Big Blonde

“Big Blonde” is often considered Dorothy Parker’s most autobiographical work because of the many parallels between the protagonist, Hazel Morse, and Parker herself. Like Hazel, Parker had an alcohol addiction, had short, unsuccessful marriages, and attempted death by suicide. Several other similarities are evident if one looks a bit further—for example, ties to the garment industry: Early in the story, Hazel is a dress model; Parker, the daughter of a garment manufacturer, was very familiar with the garment industry herself.

Additionally, Parker’s marriage to her first husband, Eddie Parker, was marked by bouts of excessive drinking and frequent fights, like Hazel’s marriage to Herbie Morse. Like Hazel, at one point Parker had a black eye after one of their more physical altercations. After the dissolution of her marriage, Parker had numerous affairs, another similarity to Hazel. Additionally, Parker experienced periods of severe depression throughout her life, just as Hazel does.

Many specific details in “Big Blonde” mirror Parker’s life as well. For example, when Hazel learns about the life-ending potential of the sedative veronal from an acquaintance, she devises an elaborate scheme to obtain the drug, which is illegal in New York. She travels to New Jersey and visits different pharmacies to nonchalantly purchase the narcotic without attracting attention.