Nella Larsen Passing

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Nella Larsen’s most famous novel, Passing, was published in 1929 which was in the middle of an era with fundamental values that incorporated racism and segregation. In the context of this time period, Jim Crow laws were instituted in order to keep the power with the whites. This gave rise to segregation of the races, and emboldened racist ideals that were largely held at the time. Given the context of the time period, it is not surprising that race played a crucial factor into the tragedy of both Irene Redfield, and Clare Kendry. An important note, this story is told through a limited 3rd person narrative (through Irene’s point of view) and she is not an entirely reliable narrator. In the beginning of the novel, before Irene explains what happened …show more content…

Irene’s perspective is affected considerably by her paramount concern in feeling safe in all aspects of her life. This in turn, leads to complexities with her attitude towards race because being African American at this time is inherently not safe. Sequentially, Irene perspective clashes due to her desire to be honorable. Denying her ties to the African race is intrinsically dishonorable, however Irene avoids this conflict by not being fully cognizant while she is “passing” as a white woman. She explains that if she were asked directly about her racial background, she would not hesitate to make known her true heritage, therefore, it frees her from culpability that comes with acknowledging the benefits of passing. Clare Kendry shook Irene’s sense of safety and honorability, which in turn lead to her possible involvement in Clare’s death out the window. Irregardless of if Irene was in fact the reason Clare fell out the window, it does not change the end result of the tragedy. The role that racism played in Irene’s sense of security and eventual downfall lead to the climax of the story; the end result was the death of Clare …show more content…

The letter is highly regarded as a symbol of Clare, and is described accordingly. Irene describes the letter with “She was wholly unable to comprehend such an attitude towards danger as she was sure the letter’s contents would reveal; and she disliked the idea of opening and reading it” (pg 9). This description shows Irene’s acute awareness of the dangerous life Clare is leading, and her complete disdain of her choices. It also broadcasts Irene’s nature of ignoring the unpleasant, or her own desires with the line “disliked the idea of opening and reading it”. She would rather be ignorant of its contents than face them. Later, she finally reads the content of the letter and afterwards is described as having “Brilliant red patches flamed in Irene Redfield’s warm olive cheeks” (pg 11). This line proves that Irene has the capacity to be sexually attracted to Clare due to the letter making her blush deeply, considering the letter is an inanimate embodiment of Clare. Irene’s attraction to Clare brings on more complexity to the relationship, and furthers Irene’s

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