An Analysis Of Nella Larsen's Passing

Stick to your Roots People often pass as something they are not, because they are either too afraid, or too embarrassed to reveal their true identity. For some, it easier just to pass for something they are not, for others it makes life a lot more difficult than necessary. For example, someone who smokes cigarettes, may try to pass as a non-smoker, because they are too embarrassed to admit to the unhealthy habit they have developed. In Nella Larsen’s, Passing, Clare Kendry passes as a white person, instead of staying true to her African American roots. Research shows, that those who choose to pass because they think it will be easier than staying true to themselves, end up living a much more difficult, and miserable life, than those who reveal their true identity, no matter what the consequence. In, Passing, Clare Kendry is of African American decent, and she chooses to pass as a white woman, because of her fair skin. Kendry …show more content…
In the novel, Nella Larsen portrays a vivid image of Irene Redfield, potentially displaying a sexual attraction to Clare Kendry, “An attractive looking woman, was Irene’s opinion, with those dark, almost black, eyes and that wide mouth like a scarlet flower against the ivory of her skin. Nice clothes too, just right for the weather, thin and cool without being mussy, as summer things were apt to be” (Larsen, P.14). Those are deep observations that Irene Redfield is making, she is clearly “checking out,” Clare Kendry. After reading that passage, I am sure that Irene Redfield feels sexually attracted to Clare Kendry. However, at the time, it was not socially acceptable to be homosexual, so Irene Redfield passed as straight, by having a husband and children. Unfortunately, still today, some people feel like they cannot reveal their true identity, that they are