Relationships Within
Star Bucella
Passing exposes many situations that readers are allowed to connect with. Several of these instances are portrayed through Irene Redfield. She has the beautiful best friend, the loving husband who is a doctor, mounds of friends to surround her, and she is even allowed to "pass” which means she is allowed to reap the benefits of being a white person. But, like all relationships involving two or more people, Irene experienced some hardship. Brian and Irene Redfield’s marriage is a very important piece of Passing because it is made relatable to many relationships. There is an abundance of issues that can be covered concerning Irene and her relationships with others, but I want to focus on her relationships with Brian (her husband) and Clare (her child-hood best friend).
First of all, I want to start by examining Irene and Clare’s relationship. The book opens to Irene finding a letter from Clare. Upon receiving the letter, Irene has flashbacks of their childhood together where Clare is described as “catlike” (6). As Irene is reading Clare’s letter, she passes the word "Chicago" that brings back another flashback. This time, both Clare and Irene were “passing” on a roof top drinking tea. As they sat together, Irene became engaged in Clare’s entire demeanor but most of all her laugh by thinking, “The woman laughed a lovely laugh, a small sequence of notes that was like a trill and also like a ringing of a delicate bell fashioned of a precious metal, a tinkling” (22). Yet, in another scene Irene questions Clare’s intentions by thinking, “Now, Irene was sure that it was too provocative for a waiter” (23). I believe that these two scenes are the best interpretation of how Irene feels towards Clare. As the book goes on, it becomes even clearer that Irene has some built up feelings of jealousy towards Clare.
Next, I feel it relevant to focus on Brian and Irene Redfield’s relationship. While Irene is getting ready to leave New York, she thinks, “She hoped that he [Brian] had been comfortable and not too lonely without her and the boys. Not so lonely that that old, queer, unhappy restlessness had begun again with him…” (83-84). With all of this considered, it seems that Brian and Irene’s marriage has progressively gotten better. Though, with Irene being afraid that she can do something that will spark an episode with Brian, their marriage will seemingly always be broken.
“There was a slight crash. On the floor at her feet lay the shattered cup” (171). If the readers did not already see Irene’s impulsive thoughts of Clare and Brian, this scene definitely allows that to happen. As the cup shatters, I believe Irene’s rational decision making skills crash as well. Later on when Clare, Irene, Brian, and others are reunited, Irene truly snaps. When Bellow, Clare’s husband, exposes her, she is left speechlessly standing beside the window. “Clare stood at the window, as composed as if everyone were not staring at her in curiosity and wonder, as if the whole structure of her life were not lying in fragments before her… There was even a faint smile on her full, red lips, and in her shining eyes” (209). Irene claims that she sees Clare smile, even in her eyes, which further enrages her because now she may be free from her husband and have a chance to go for Brian.
Irene Redfield’s jealousy obviously gets the best of her in the end when she pushes Clare out the window. Though she cries in agony (or fear of being caught) with her husband, their marriage seems to strengthen, which is what Irene seemed to want all along.
Star Bucella
Passing exposes many situations that readers are allowed to connect with. Several of these instances are portrayed through Irene Redfield. She has the beautiful best friend, the loving husband who is a doctor, mounds of friends to surround her, and she is even allowed to "pass” which means she is allowed to reap the benefits of being a white person. But, like all relationships involving two or more people, Irene experienced some hardship. Brian and Irene Redfield’s marriage is a very important piece of Passing because it is made relatable to many relationships. There is an abundance of issues that can be covered concerning Irene and her relationships with others, but I want to focus on her relationships with Brian (her husband) and Clare (her child-hood best friend).
First of all, I want to start by examining Irene and Clare’s relationship. The book opens to Irene finding a letter from Clare. Upon receiving the letter, Irene has flashbacks of their childhood together where Clare is described as “catlike” (6). As Irene is reading Clare’s letter, she passes the word "Chicago" that brings back another flashback. This time, both Clare and Irene were “passing” on a roof top drinking tea. As they sat together, Irene became engaged in Clare’s entire demeanor but most of all her laugh by thinking, “The woman laughed a lovely laugh, a small sequence of notes that was like a trill and also like a ringing of a delicate bell fashioned of a precious metal, a tinkling” (22). Yet, in another scene Irene questions Clare’s intentions by thinking, “Now, Irene was sure that it was too provocative for a waiter” (23). I believe that these two scenes are the best interpretation of how Irene feels towards Clare. As the book goes on, it becomes even clearer that Irene has some built up feelings of jealousy towards Clare.
Next, I feel it relevant to focus on Brian and Irene Redfield’s relationship. While Irene is getting ready to leave New York, she thinks, “She hoped that he [Brian] had been comfortable and not too lonely without her and the boys. Not so lonely that that old, queer, unhappy restlessness had begun again with him…” (83-84). With all of this considered, it seems that Brian and Irene’s marriage has progressively gotten better. Though, with Irene being afraid that she can do something that will spark an episode with Brian, their marriage will seemingly always be broken.
“There was a slight crash. On the floor at her feet lay the shattered cup” (171). If the readers did not already see Irene’s impulsive thoughts of Clare and Brian, this scene definitely allows that to happen. As the cup shatters, I believe Irene’s rational decision making skills crash as well. Later on when Clare, Irene, Brian, and others are reunited, Irene truly snaps. When Bellow, Clare’s husband, exposes her, she is left speechlessly standing beside the window. “Clare stood at the window, as composed as if everyone were not staring at her in curiosity and wonder, as if the whole structure of her life were not lying in fragments before her… There was even a faint smile on her full, red lips, and in her shining eyes” (209). Irene claims that she sees Clare smile, even in her eyes, which further enrages her because now she may be free from her husband and have a chance to go for Brian.
Irene Redfield’s jealousy obviously gets the best of her in the end when she pushes Clare out the window. Though she cries in agony (or fear of being caught) with her husband, their marriage seems to strengthen, which is what Irene seemed to want all along.