Elizabeth Williams
Reading Response: Passing
In Nella Larsen’s Passing, the issue of light skinned African Americans “passing” as Caucasian is brought to light. The novel features the lives of two childhood friends, Irene and Clare, who are both members of the African American community. Both women have light enough skin to pass as white in order to gain entrance into the white community. Clare, however, is the only one of the two who uses her light skinned Caucasian like features to advance herself into a more beneficial position. Other major themes present in the 1929 novel are class divisions, homoeroticism, and the different interpretations of the term “passing.”
Irene is thoroughly fixated on Clare throughout the storyline; she is constantly analyzing Clare’s appearance and lifestyle. Even though Irene has “passed” before as a white woman, she does not go to the extent Clare does. Clare is married to a white man, Jack Bellew, who has no knowledge of Clare’s black grandmother and black heritage. Irene does not approve of Clare’s deception to her fellow black community, but does admire Clare’s high-class white lifestyle. Irene is focused on class divisions throughout the novel, whereas Clare is concentrated on racial divisions. Clare’s ability to fit into the white society goes against Irene’s black middle class respectability.
Irene is in the upper middle class and chooses to remain an active member of the black society. She is a committee member of the Negro Welfare League and married to a black doctor, Brian Redfield. Even though Irene can pass as white if she chose, she finds value in her African American companions. Passing, even though it granted unlimited access to a restricted white world, was also equated with race betrayal and a transgression against blacks. The theme of losing racial identity runs parallel with Clare’s loss of her black community. Clare is now obsessed with the race she used to claim; Irene notices Clare’s flirtation and admiration of black men. Clare is enthralled with the black society because it is now unobtainable to her if she wants to keep her guise of a wealthy white woman.
Irene is jealous of Clare and her access to first class society. However, Irene is so enchanted with Clare that some scholars suggest the theme of homoeroticism being present. Irene is jealous of Clare’s possessions and friends; even though she dislikes Clare’s husband, Jack Bellew, she is jealous of the status Jack brings Clare. Her jealousy is furthered when she accuses Clare of having an affair with her own husband, Brian, which eventually leads to a fatal encounter. Passing as betrayal is represented through this suggested infidelity between Clare and Brian. Irene is imagining the affair, and possibly projecting the affair upon Clare and Brian.
Clare’s death, whether it be accidental or murder, illustrates the author’s opinions of “passing” as a dangerous affair. Passing is deceptive and has potentially fatal consequences. Author, Nella Larsen, expresses the danger in lying to peers and loved ones. Racial identity, how it impacts class standing, opportunities, and social standing are all impacted by the act of “passing.”
Reading Response: Passing
In Nella Larsen’s Passing, the issue of light skinned African Americans “passing” as Caucasian is brought to light. The novel features the lives of two childhood friends, Irene and Clare, who are both members of the African American community. Both women have light enough skin to pass as white in order to gain entrance into the white community. Clare, however, is the only one of the two who uses her light skinned Caucasian like features to advance herself into a more beneficial position. Other major themes present in the 1929 novel are class divisions, homoeroticism, and the different interpretations of the term “passing.”
Irene is thoroughly fixated on Clare throughout the storyline; she is constantly analyzing Clare’s appearance and lifestyle. Even though Irene has “passed” before as a white woman, she does not go to the extent Clare does. Clare is married to a white man, Jack Bellew, who has no knowledge of Clare’s black grandmother and black heritage. Irene does not approve of Clare’s deception to her fellow black community, but does admire Clare’s high-class white lifestyle. Irene is focused on class divisions throughout the novel, whereas Clare is concentrated on racial divisions. Clare’s ability to fit into the white society goes against Irene’s black middle class respectability.
Irene is in the upper middle class and chooses to remain an active member of the black society. She is a committee member of the Negro Welfare League and married to a black doctor, Brian Redfield. Even though Irene can pass as white if she chose, she finds value in her African American companions. Passing, even though it granted unlimited access to a restricted white world, was also equated with race betrayal and a transgression against blacks. The theme of losing racial identity runs parallel with Clare’s loss of her black community. Clare is now obsessed with the race she used to claim; Irene notices Clare’s flirtation and admiration of black men. Clare is enthralled with the black society because it is now unobtainable to her if she wants to keep her guise of a wealthy white woman.
Irene is jealous of Clare and her access to first class society. However, Irene is so enchanted with Clare that some scholars suggest the theme of homoeroticism being present. Irene is jealous of Clare’s possessions and friends; even though she dislikes Clare’s husband, Jack Bellew, she is jealous of the status Jack brings Clare. Her jealousy is furthered when she accuses Clare of having an affair with her own husband, Brian, which eventually leads to a fatal encounter. Passing as betrayal is represented through this suggested infidelity between Clare and Brian. Irene is imagining the affair, and possibly projecting the affair upon Clare and Brian.
Clare’s death, whether it be accidental or murder, illustrates the author’s opinions of “passing” as a dangerous affair. Passing is deceptive and has potentially fatal consequences. Author, Nella Larsen, expresses the danger in lying to peers and loved ones. Racial identity, how it impacts class standing, opportunities, and social standing are all impacted by the act of “passing.”