While each of these women’s lifestyles varies, the way that their children are brought also vary and bring an amount of uncertainty. In Irene’s and Brian’s marriage, there are several discussions on how much their son Junior should know about reality. Irene, would rather have Junior live in oblivion of what the world is like and shelter him from the troubles he will have to face. Brian feels as though it would be best that as his parents, they inform him of the issues that are being faced in their society. In their discussions, sex was among them, but the one of most importance was related to lynching. As Junior asked why only colored people are lynched (Larsen 595), Brian decided it was wise to honestly answer him because the more he finds
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Within Passing it has been believed that the relationship between Irene and Clare extends beyond a platonic relationship. In instances that Irene appreciated Clare’s demeanor, it gave off the suggestion that that was a sexual attraction between the two women. There is also the fact that Irene was incapable of denying Clare anything when in they are in each other’s presence. Throughout Irene’s narrative, she frequently commented on Clare’s looks and features, sometimes in a sensual nature. Though in many ways this idea is just speculation and many do not believe this portion of their relationship to be true. Some may say that that Irene may have secretly envied Clare because she was free in ways that Irene was not. However, depicting these taboo emotions and relationships was not uncommon for modernist literature. For instance, consider Gertrude Stein, who is in a known homosexual author, prose of Tender Buttons. Corinne Blackmer an English professor also declares that Passing is a novel that explores the “intrasexual relationship between Irene and Clare” (52). She also gives the suggestion that the title Passing has an underlying meaning that extends beyond passing for white, but even passing heterosexual (Blackmer 52). Modern literature ignited curiosity of what was seen as unorthodox lifestyles and …show more content…
Nella Larsen has used her own experiences to reveal the uncertainty and challenges faced within the African American community. With her novel, Passing it provided views of the constantly changing lifestyles of passing women and other African Americans. For instance, there is no answer to Irene’s speculation of her husband’s affair with Clare and there is no answer to who is responsible for the death of Clare in the ending of the novel. Modernism was a rapid change within literature because it brought about differing lifestyles that were not common within the predecessor,
Within Passing it has been believed that the relationship between Irene and Clare extends beyond a platonic relationship. In instances that Irene appreciated Clare’s demeanor, it gave off the suggestion that that was a sexual attraction between the two women. There is also the fact that Irene was incapable of denying Clare anything when in they are in each other’s presence. Throughout Irene’s narrative, she frequently commented on Clare’s looks and features, sometimes in a sensual nature. Though in many ways this idea is just speculation and many do not believe this portion of their relationship to be true. Some may say that that Irene may have secretly envied Clare because she was free in ways that Irene was not. However, depicting these taboo emotions and relationships was not uncommon for modernist literature. For instance, consider Gertrude Stein, who is in a known homosexual author, prose of Tender Buttons. Corinne Blackmer an English professor also declares that Passing is a novel that explores the “intrasexual relationship between Irene and Clare” (52). She also gives the suggestion that the title Passing has an underlying meaning that extends beyond passing for white, but even passing heterosexual (Blackmer 52). Modern literature ignited curiosity of what was seen as unorthodox lifestyles and …show more content…
Nella Larsen has used her own experiences to reveal the uncertainty and challenges faced within the African American community. With her novel, Passing it provided views of the constantly changing lifestyles of passing women and other African Americans. For instance, there is no answer to Irene’s speculation of her husband’s affair with Clare and there is no answer to who is responsible for the death of Clare in the ending of the novel. Modernism was a rapid change within literature because it brought about differing lifestyles that were not common within the predecessor,