Passing Nella Larsen Summary

This excerpt of “Passing” by Nella Larsen outlines the major themes of race, class, gender, and character that we continually talk about in class. Clare Kendry is a woman with Negro blood who partakes in the precarious practice of “passing” as a white woman in public. In this section of the story, Clare visits Irene to inquire why she chose not to respond to Clare’s letter. After a heated argument about safety and consequences, Clare invites herself to the Negro Welfare League’s annual dance that Irene helps organize. Irene reluctantly agrees, and watches Clare as she dances with a myriad of men including Irene’s husband at the dance. Irene and Mr. Wentworth, a famous author, note Clare’s beauty, the peculiarity of her race, and her motives for coming to the dance. The dance marks the beginning of a new friendship between Irene and Clare; whilst Clare visits …show more content…
Wentworth talk about race as a social construct. Mr. Wentworth comments that “yes lots of people ‘pass’ all the time” to which Irene responds “Not on our side, Hugh. It’s easy for a Negro to ‘pass’ for white” But I don’t think it would be so simple for a white person to ‘pass’ for coloured” (Larsen 1120). This particular comment shows the depth of social construction has been placed on race. Irene is stating that it literally doesn’t matter if you look white or black, people only care about your bloodline. Also, White people in society have less of a conscious awareness for race as they are rarely, if at all, discriminated against. African Americans, however, have to face racial awareness everyday and so, are more conscious of a person’s race. Therefore, it is hard for a white person to pass as black solely because African Americans are more likely to see through their facade and ostracize them. Irene claims that White people are not so well versed in sensing others’ races and that is why it is easier for African Americans to pass as white