The title of Nella Larsen’s novel, Passing, refers to a popular idea that is evident throughout the past and even up to the present. It is clear that “passing” refers to people who have features close enough to looking like another race that it is believable to say that they are that specific race. This idea is not uncommon for its superficiality basing all of it on looks and mannerisms. In the time period of the novel, the early twentieth century, racial tensions are high and societal views of African Americans are negatively narrow-minded. Clare uses her light colored skin to her advantage as she lives life as a white woman, neglecting her black heritage. She shows her shame in her ethnicity by hiding who she really is from her husband and everyone else she meets. On the other hand, Irene embraces her black heritage and hosts events to bring the black community together. Although she does acknowledge her ethnicity, she still uses her light colored skin to her advantage like eating in the Drayton Hotel and hailing taxis.
My first thoughts of the title before reading the novel lead to the euphemism for dying: “passing away” or “passing on”. I was surprised to find that the only death in the novel came at the end with Clare.
