Summary Of Nella Larsen's Passing

Nella Larson’s novel Passing, tells the story of two African American women Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry who embark on a journey to “reconnect” with one another. Although, similar in appearance, these two women were very different in the way they determined race. For women like Irene and Clare who were physically able to “pass” as white women, despite having African American heritage the typical connotation that race was distinguished by the color of one’s skin did not apply to them. As a result, many women like Irene and Clare would cross the racial lines. The character Clare Kendry was the perfect example of “passing.”

Anne romanticizes Lady Elliot’s life, allowing her to briefly consider a marriage with Mr. Elliot. Anne loved “the idea of becoming what her mother had been; of having the precious name of ‘Lady Elliot’ first revived in herself of being restored to Kellynch, calling it her home again, her home for ever” (118). Lady Elliot represents the life Anne could live if she chooses Mr. Elliot over Captain Wentworth; Lady Elliot represents the choice between status and love. So while Lady Elliot and Anne enjoy being useful, are both sensible and amiable, and are in charge of the family’s finances and affairs, they differ in one crucial belief: whether status or love triumphs. Anne values love more and chooses

Mixed-race identity is a complex and multifaceted issue that has long been a subject of literary exploration. Nella Larsen's novel Passing is a powerful exploration of mixed-race identity in 1920s America, as depicted through the experiences of Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry. Through the characters of Irene and Clare, Larsen explores the impact of societal expectations and pressures on individuals, highlighting the importance of embracing one's identity and heritage, regardless of societal norms and expectations. At its core, Passing is a novel about the complexities of racial identity and the impact of societal expectations and pressures on individuals.

Nella Larsen’s Passing is a novella about the past experiences of African American women ‘passing’ as whites for equal opportunities. Larsen presents the day to day issues African American women face during their ‘passing’ journey through her characters of Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry. During the reading process, we progressively realize ‘passing’ in Harlem, New York during the 1920’s becomes difficult for both of these women physically and mentally as different kinds of challenges approach ahead. Although Larsen decides the novella to be told in a third person narrative, different thoughts and messages of Irene and Clare communicate broken ideas for the reader, causing the interpretation of the novella to vary from different perspectives.

Jeannette and her siblings depend on each other like when Jeannette and Brian pair together when faced by bullies at school. Maureen exists as a sort of “black sheep” in the family because not only does she not have red hair, but she seldom spends time with the family and instead relies on others to care for her. That’s why Jeannette believes Maureen is in need of more protection than the rest of her siblings. Considering the neglect and abuse she suffered. I was extremely surprised that she did remain somewhat close to her parents.

Abandonment and Identity in Housekeeping The setting of Housekeeping begins in Fingerbone, Idaho, where the narrator, Ruthie, and her younger sister, Lucille, resides. Although Ruthie and Lucille are sisters, they went through many heartbreaking events that made them view the world differently. Thus, because of their indifferences, they isolated from each other. Throughout the novel, Ruthie and Lucille never had a concrete parental figure to look up too, thus leading them to have a sense of abandonment.

She uses the words ‘died’, ‘terror’, ‘fear’, ‘dark’, ‘risk’, ‘strain’, and ‘hellish’; which are all words associated with danger or negativity. In contrast, Irene enjoys being a mother and always thinks about her children when making decisions. She feels motherhood is a strong life-long responsibility that can definitely be stressful, but is worth it in the long run. She feels such an obligation to her children that she puts their needs before hers. “Nor did she admit that all other plans, all other ways, she regarded as menaces, more or less

Irene's marriage with Brian Redfield is empty and unfulfilling. Brian resents Irene because she was the reason why he could not be where he wanted to be, which has led to discomfort and arguments throughout their marriage. Brian very much wanted to be in Brazil, but Irene insisted upon him

“She said that sexual assault was a crime of perception. “If you don’t think you’re hurt, then you aren’t (Walls 184).” Rosemary makes Jeannette feel like she is insignificant to her and doesn’t make the effort to stick up for her child. At this point, Jeannette must feel worthless to her mother, bringing her self-esteem to a low.

After Jeannette got a job in New York as a writer, she would attend parties, art galleries, and etc. When people ask about her background and parents, Jeannette doesn’t tell the exact truth because she felt embarrassed about her parents. She also didn’t want to be looked down upon because of her past. Maureen, Jeannette’s baby sister, left for California after getting out of jail for stabbing her mother. Jeannette felt guilty and sorry for not being able to give Maureen the life she had wanted.

1920’s society offered a prominent way for blacks that look white to exploit its barrier and pass in society. Visible within Nella Larsen’s Passing, access to the regular world exists only for those who fit the criteria of white skin and white husband. Through internal conflict and characterization, the novella reveals deception slowly devours the deceitful. In Passing, Clare and Irene both deceive people. They both engage in deceit by having the ability to pass when they are not of the proper race to do so.

This earns her Irene’s compassion, empathy and closure. Irene portrays her as an emotionless and catlike creature who has a difficult emotion to understand. Perhaps her father’s death has altered her psychology, hence making her more prone to danger. Clare searches for thrill by chasing after danger and freedom to make her life more exciting and fill the void created by her race and the death of her father. Her daringness gives her courage to pass, which she considers a way to tackle the obstacles her race exposes her to.

And finally she broked. -Irene deal with various internal and external conflicts, from the irritation of having her old friend Clare enter her life. To the content fear of Brian leaving her for good. From the very beginning of the novella the readers saw that Irene, was the main cause of her own unhappiness. Internally she wanted to control everything that her husband wanted to do.

This quotation relates to the novel Passing because it shows the friendship between two childhood friends who rekindle their friendship as grown adults. The novel Passing, written by Nella Larsen talks about two African American woman with different experiences. The relationship between the two African American woman who share two different lifestyles, but similar in different ways. Throughout the novel it is seen that both characters have many similarities and differences. Irene is a colored woman who is married with two children.

This shows that Clare is willing to give up important people in her life so she can live her the life she wants. Clare emotionally tells Irene, “‘Oh but you have, you have. It’s just that I haven’t any proper morals or sense of duty, as you have, that makes me act as I do’” (65). Irene plays a role for her husband and kids, unlike Clare her child is in Switzerland, so she has “sense of duty”.