Tag: Passing

The title of Nella Larsen’s novel, “Passing,” does not carry the meaning that readers can easily infer, but with the context of its 1920s Harlem background and unfolding plot, it soon becomes clear. “Passing” refers to being white passing, something that the main characters, Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry, use to their advantage. The concept of being white passing has superficial and emotional consequences. Both women keep their black heritage a secret, especially Clare, whose own husband doesn’t even know that she is black. While Irene does retain black pride, her light-skinned features enable her to do things a black woman could not do during that time, such as eat at the Drayton Hotel, where she still feels extremely self conscious. Clare’s use of “passing” is much more extreme – she lives life as a white woman, but though she can enjoy the benefits of white privilege in a narrow-minded society, Clare simultaneously denies her black heritage, which poses a problem to her friendship with Irene.

The term “passing” in the context of the novel can also serve as commentary on the ending, with Clare’s death, and the events that lead to it. While being white passing does have its superficial advantages especially in a racially prejudiced time, Clare cannot be truthful with herself and with her family members and subsequently leads to the destruction of her real identity. Clare’s fate resembles the literal definition of passing (ie passing away), but also contradicts its alternative definition of “going past” – she was never able to get past her physical features and embrace her racial identity in the same way Irene was able to.

Nella Larsen’s Passing details the encounters and friendship between two African-American women –one that has passed for white while the other chose against it. The woman who passed for white, Clare, is married to a white man, has a daughter, and lives in Europe with her family. On the other hand, the woman who went against passing, Irene, lives in New York City with her husband and two sons. In the novel, both women prove to be neither admirable nor sympathetic.

Throughout the novel, Irene and Clare try to rekindle their childhood friendship. Irene knows maintaining contact with Clare is a bad idea; however, when Clare visits Irene she becomes hypnotized with her appearance and persona. Rather than remembering how toxic Clare is, Irene chooses to focus on her beauty and constantly mentions how Irene is amazing. Irene’s close friendship with Clare not only diverts her attention to Clare, but it also diverts Irene’s husband’s Brian’s attention to Clare. This newfound friendship between Clare and Brian causes Irene to believe that Brian is having an affair with Clare.

Throughout the novel, Clare does not only win over Irene and her family, but she also wins over her own family and Gertrude, another one of her childhood friends. In the beginning of the novel, Irene, Clare, and Gertrude meet up at Clare’s house to catch up. Soon, Irene and Gertrude meet Clare’s husband Jack, who is white, wealthy, and very racist. During their meeting, Jack calls Clare “Nig” and he explains to Irene and Gertrude how he despises African American people. Rather than confront Jack, Irene and Gertrude are indirectly pushed by Clare to laugh the situation off. Irene even feels that she was “held by some dam of caution and allegiance to Clare.” (41)

While Clare may be the manipulator in the novel, this also does not make Irene an angel. In the novel, Irene encounters Jack when she goes shopping with Felise, one of Irene’s friends who is visibly black. From this encounter, Jack draws the conclusion that Irene and Clare are both African American. Instead of mentioning the meeting to Clare, Irene decides to forget about it. Then, during the final party, Jack confronts Clare and tells her that he knows she is not white. Instead of owning up to her actions, Irene chooses to not remember Jack and Clare’s argument clearly. Jack’s interruption ultimately results in Clare falling out of one of the windows, making it unclear whether the death was a suicide or accidental.

Neither of the women is admirable nor sympathetic because they are both narcissistic. Instead of being truthful, Clare constantly manipulates everyone around her to her advantage. On the other hand, Irene lies through omission in order to protect her “ideal” family. In both cases, each woman only fights for herself in order to improve her own life.