Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry are truly complex characters in the Nella Larson’s Passing. The point of view in this novel, third person, also adds to the complexity/confusion. However, the point of view does focus more on Irene and how she is feeling, what she is thinking and what she is doing from day to day. This point of view still does not make it easy to understand what the characters are thinking.
In terms of sympathizing for one character more than the other, this is also hard. Irene seems like she is the more caring and loving one as she stays true to her race and identity which can cause one to sympathize her but the ending kind of turns what we interpret of Irene’s character. Is Irene deserving of our sympathy? Also, Irene is extremely judgmental; she judges all of Clare’s actions very harshly, she criticizes Gertrude, in a way, because she has married a white man over a man of her own race, she is also constantly talking negatively about her husband. She says that her husband does not care for his sick patients and also their relationship seems to be a problem because of Irene’s attitude. As readers, we do not see any romantic connection between Irene and her husband and this hints at a romantic relationship with Clare because they are often talking about each theory in a subtle but sexual way. However, this does not make Irene a caring or loving character. Also, during the dance, we can sense that Irene is jealous of the fact that everyone seems to love Clare and enjoy her company. Irene is just an overall, harsh, judgmental and jealous character in the novel. This judgement is made way before we become suspicious, as readers, that she may have caused Clare’s death. Also, Irene cannot seem to say no to Clare about anything which is not very admirable. This is also confusing because is Irene doing this because she is sympathetic towards Clare’s situation or something else?
On the other hard, the reader sort of sympathizes for Clare because of her tough situation and her ‘loneliness” that is brought up more than once in the novel. Clare chooses this life of lying and hiding from her personal identity. Clare, however, comes from an extremely difficult past. Her father dying, and her aunts mistreating her, these are all reasons that Clare is the way she is. One’s past ultimately affects their future forever. Clare’s past, along with her loneliness. has a great affect on how the reader views Clare. We see that Clare is lying about her race and identity but she still has a longing for her “black” side. Clare is always wanting to join Irene in gatherings, dances and other occasions to get to see people from her past that are of the same race and reconnect with them. Most of these actions make Clare look caring and genuine in her actions. The reader feels sympathy for Clare when Clare is telling Irene that she is the safer, wiser, and happier one. This leads the reader to believe that Clare still cares about her race and wishes she could get away from this life of lies. Clare gets a horrible, unexpected ending as she is pushed out of a window by one of the characters. Irene was jealous of Clare and this made the readers feel that Clare did not care about Irene’s feelings because she was suspected of getting close to Irene’s husband.
All these internal conflicts put together do not lead us to believe that Irene or Clare are very sympathetic/admirable at all. However, because of Clare’s past and consistent behavior, I would have to say that she is a little more sympathized but not sympathetic. Also, because Irene and Clare both made questionable decisions, I do not believe any of them are admirable. The only thing that is admirable about Irene is her connection with her true identity/race even though she may or may not have killed Clare.
