Nella Larsen

develops this idea perfectly, is Passing by Nella Larson. Throughout the story, it can be seen that the one of the main characters, Clare Kendry, separates her American identity, from her black identity. Clare manages to do this through “Passing” as white all the time. However, to Clare, she passes to live a lifestyle she believes she prefers, only to change her mind later on. She seems to have a double-consciousness, while isolating…

is exposing her own insecurities. Evidence of doubling the protagonist and antagonist can be found numerous times throughout the novel when Irene reveals Clare’s ability to always be inside her head. “As if aware of her desire and her hesitation” (Larsen 157), “Uncanny, the way Clare could divine what one was thinking” (167), “Clare Kendry always seemed to know what other people were thinking” (234). Irene recognizes Clare’s familiarity with her. I suggest this is Irene’s way of confessing her…

The Great Gatsby and Passing both show how social class and identity play a strong role in people's lives. Both novels have characters, Jay Gatsby and Clare Kendry, who lie about their identities to benefit themselves. The authors, Nella Larsen and F. Scott Fitzgerald, both use the theme of identity to warn readers that hiding your identity to live a better life can have terrible consequences. Both Jay Gatsby and Clare Kendry lie about their identities, which leads to their deaths. Gatsby lied…

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…

Fear controlled young Thomas Bigger life, fear to better himself in life, fear to move away from his family, and fear of being caught of the crime he committed. Referring back to Nella Larsen’s Passing, in this novel two old time African American friends that was separated in their grown up lives. The story tells about the two ladies that sometimes passed for other race to get ahead in life. And like Clair, in the story “Native Son”…

The 1920’s, commonly known as the roaring 20’s, was a time of rapid change. With the workweek shorten to 5 days a week and the average minimum wage rising, people now had the time and the money to do other things. Entertainment became a big part of every American life. It did matter if they were seeking Jazz, Blues, Drama or a good read, entertainment was around every corner. African American during this time began fleeing to the North in belief that they will find acceptance and employment.…

Passing: Not Quite Fitting In In modern day racial passing has become almost irrelevant, with more than in any time in history, African Americans are having (near) equal rights, and it might not be too far-fetched to say that passing might be swapping. It can be observed in social media, traditional street fashion, originally sported by African Americans, is now the aesthetic many non-colored celebrities have adopted. However, the most common use of passing today does not refer to racial…

American fiction is driven by the contradictions between the perceived success of American culture versus the reality of American society. Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, and Passing, by Nella Larsen, both feed on this idea, for they both remark and criticize the superficial success of the American society, and reveal its underlying malfunction. In a time in which slavery was morally accepted, Huckleberry Finn remarks on the backwards nature of the oppressive institution. By detailing the…

LeShawn Gamble Professor Deidre Ray TLIT 4 March 2018 Review of Intersectionality: Exploring the Racial Dichotomy Nella Larsen’s Passing introduces us to the idea of intersectionality through the eyes of two co-protagonists featured in her narrative. Passing is a literary work that embodies the realist and truest forms of race as a social construct. This does not however, diminished its power when it comes to the real life experiences of those imbedded in its feral grip. Intersectionality is a…

cohesive, completely accurate definition of whiteness as a concept, only a variety of theories that connect or relate in some way to provide a deeper understanding of whiteness and racial identity. Within only two texts, Passing and Appropriate by Nella Larsen and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins respectively, multiple theories of whiteness are explored through character’s daily lives, habits, beliefs, and interactions with one another.…