Based in the 1920s, Passing, by Nella Larsen narrates the story of two characters, Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry who lived in a society separated by skin colour and social class. Both these women, though originating from an African-American background, were, due to their light skin, intentionally ‘passing’ as white women to fit into the white-dominated society of the time. However, this process left both Irene and Clare stuck choosing between the two cultures and races. The confusion of choosing an identity from either black or white usually left negative effects on these women. By providing insight into the relationships between Irene and Clare compared to their husbands, Nella Larsen discusses how ‘passing’ and crossing racial lines forced
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Though, in reality, John was really the one who held the power of dictating Clare’s racial identity. As seen throughout the book, Clare’s marriage was what bound her into maintaining her relationship with John, no matter how mistreating or racist he was, even if that meant being nicknamed “Nig” (Larsen, 39) . Despite John’s overpowering hate for black people, Clare wanted to “see Negroes, to be with them again, to talk with them, to hear them laugh” (Larsen, 71). The sudden “yearning for her people” led to a change in both her attitude and her identity (Larsen, 51). She no longer cared if she was passing or if she was recognized as black or even if her husband found out her secret. She was at the point where “to get the things [she wanted] enough, [she’d] do anything, hurt anybody, throw anything away” (Larsen 81). Even if that meant throwing away her luxurious life with Bellew and her position in society. What mattered to her now was her freedom, from her marriage and her responsibilities. Unfortunately, this freedom could not last long as John did eventually learn of Clare’s race and in confronting her, caused her death. Though it can be argued if John really was the cause of Clare’s death, …show more content…
This could probably serve as a reason Irene did not tell John of Clare’s true identity. The entire idea of Clare hiding her race and colour from her husband seemed concerning and offensive to Irene. But “she had to Clare kendry a duty. She was bound to her by those very ties of race, which, for all her repudiation of them, Clare had been unable to completely sever” (Larsen, 52). Race became a reason for Irene to remain loyal to her friend, because by betraying her friend, she was also betraying herself since she was also passing/doing the same as Clare. The importance Irene gave to ‘passing’ and maintaining her social class had already forced her to suppress her so called feelings for Clare, but had also allowed Larsen to leave it up to her audience to decide whether Irene’s paranoid behaviour and suspicions (of Clare betraying their friendship) were a result of Irene’s confused feelings over Clare or the feelings of jealousy which developed from Clare’s proximity to Brian. This paranoid behaviour had resulted into a psychological turmoil in Irene’s life, where she had allowed herself to believe that Clare and Brian were sharing an illegitimate relationship. In order to support her claim, Larsen, using Irene’s point of view as her getaway, provides sufficient information to discuss how the institution
Though, in reality, John was really the one who held the power of dictating Clare’s racial identity. As seen throughout the book, Clare’s marriage was what bound her into maintaining her relationship with John, no matter how mistreating or racist he was, even if that meant being nicknamed “Nig” (Larsen, 39) . Despite John’s overpowering hate for black people, Clare wanted to “see Negroes, to be with them again, to talk with them, to hear them laugh” (Larsen, 71). The sudden “yearning for her people” led to a change in both her attitude and her identity (Larsen, 51). She no longer cared if she was passing or if she was recognized as black or even if her husband found out her secret. She was at the point where “to get the things [she wanted] enough, [she’d] do anything, hurt anybody, throw anything away” (Larsen 81). Even if that meant throwing away her luxurious life with Bellew and her position in society. What mattered to her now was her freedom, from her marriage and her responsibilities. Unfortunately, this freedom could not last long as John did eventually learn of Clare’s race and in confronting her, caused her death. Though it can be argued if John really was the cause of Clare’s death, …show more content…
This could probably serve as a reason Irene did not tell John of Clare’s true identity. The entire idea of Clare hiding her race and colour from her husband seemed concerning and offensive to Irene. But “she had to Clare kendry a duty. She was bound to her by those very ties of race, which, for all her repudiation of them, Clare had been unable to completely sever” (Larsen, 52). Race became a reason for Irene to remain loyal to her friend, because by betraying her friend, she was also betraying herself since she was also passing/doing the same as Clare. The importance Irene gave to ‘passing’ and maintaining her social class had already forced her to suppress her so called feelings for Clare, but had also allowed Larsen to leave it up to her audience to decide whether Irene’s paranoid behaviour and suspicions (of Clare betraying their friendship) were a result of Irene’s confused feelings over Clare or the feelings of jealousy which developed from Clare’s proximity to Brian. This paranoid behaviour had resulted into a psychological turmoil in Irene’s life, where she had allowed herself to believe that Clare and Brian were sharing an illegitimate relationship. In order to support her claim, Larsen, using Irene’s point of view as her getaway, provides sufficient information to discuss how the institution