Racial Ambiguity In Nella Larsen's Passing

n 1929, Nella Larsen publishes Passing, a book questioning the concept of racial identity, racial ambiguity, and the exploration of passing through both the white and black worlds (James). Passing is told from the perspective of Irene Redfield, an observant mother and wife that accepts her heritage and identity. When Irene re-encounters her old childhood friend, Clare Kendry, at the Drayton Hotel, Clare reveals her new life of luxury as a result of passing into the white world. Clare is described as dangerous and mysterious and this re-encounter can bring nothing but trouble into Irene’s perfect life. Throughout the book, Irene Redfield, the central character of the book, spends a lot of time near windows, and windows remain as a place where Irene and Clare are able to reflect upon their emotions. Irene expresses a range of emotions throughout the duration of the novel due to Clare’s reemergence and the threat of her domestic security. At the beginning of the novel, Irene’s demeanor is calm, but at the end of the book, she is more reckless emotionally as her idea of security is in jeopardy due to Clare’s evolving relationship with her husband, Brian. Depending on the circumstances in which Irene is looking out of a window, …show more content…
Throughout Passing, it becomes evident that Irene’s emotions become more reckless as Clare increasingly poses a threat to her security. Since Clare poses a direct threat to the secure life that she has built for herself in Harlem, Irene harbors resentment towards Clare that builds until she reaches her breaking point and releases all the anger she fosters Clare, which is symbolized by the opening of the window in the final pages of the novel. Clare dies by falling out of a window (the circumstances surrounding her death are unclear), ending Irene’s worries and restoring her secure