ipl-logo

Passing Sparknotes

768 Words4 Pages

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. The novel is set in 1920s America, a time when racial tensions and segregation were widespread. …show more content…

Clare's decision to pass is driven by a desire for safety and security, but it ultimately leads to a sense of isolation and disconnection from her black heritage. Clare's passing also has a profound impact on Irene, who feels a sense of betrayal when she discovers that her childhood friend, who she had believed to be a fellow black woman, is passing as white. When Irene confronts Clare about her decision to pass, she exclaims, "You're a Negro and you ought to be proud of it!" (Larsen …show more content…

Irene's struggles with her own identity and her place within the black community highlight the ways in which societal expectations and pressures can create feelings of uncertainty and self-doubt in individuals who do not fit neatly into racial categories. As she attends a party with her husband and other black professionals, Irene reflects on her own identity and the ways in which she is perceived by others. She thinks to herself, "I am who I am, and they can't make me different" (Larsen 24). Clare's decision to pass, on the other hand, highlights the very real dangers and limitations faced by people of color in a society that values whiteness and marginalizes people of color. Clare's passing is a desperate attempt to escape the limitations and dangers of her black heritage, but it ultimately leads to a sense of isolation and disconnection from her true self. As she reflects on her decision to pass, Clare muses, "It was funny, wasn't it, that she should have passed and Irene not? Irene who had more to lose, so much more" (Larsen

Show More
Related

Nella Larsen's Passing

1109 Words | 5 Pages

In some ways, Clare holds just as much value to Irene as the cigarette does, and Larsen shows this throughout the novel with Irene’s hostile attitude towards Clare, someone she sees as disposable, just like the cigarette. At this point in the book, Irene is mad, spiteful and finished with Clare, just like Irene finishes her cigarette. When Irene finishes her cigarette, she casts it aside mindlessly, as it's only a cigarette after all, you light it, smoke it, and discard it, just like how she wants to treat her friendship with clare. When told that it is dangerous to be by the window because she would catch cold, Irene walks away, without closing the window. Minutes later, Clare is standing by the window previously opened by Irene, when her racist asshole husband crashes the party, threatening and lunging towards her.

Read More

Passing Nella Larson Quotes

595 Words | 3 Pages

Giovanni Silva Mrs. Ortiz African American Lit 20 April 2022 Losing your cultural identity Passing by Nella Larson takes place in the 1920s with two main characters, Clare and Irene. Throughout the book they battle the decision if they should pass or not. Clare is an example of how people sacrifice their cultural identity to gain privileges and advantages in society. Passing occurs when a person who is classified as a member of a racial group is accepted or perceived as a member of another racial group.

Read More

Unbroken Sparknotes

764 Words | 4 Pages

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is a compelling and powerful story of survival, resilience, and redemption. The book follows the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete turned World War II prisoner of war, as he endures unimaginable hardship and suffering, but ultimately triumphs over adversity. The book opens with Louis' childhood, providing crucial background information that helps the reader understand his personality and character. Louis grew up in Torrance, California, and was often getting into trouble. However, he discovered his love for running and went on to become an Olympic athlete, participating in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Read More

Tracks Of The Missing Sparknotes

1440 Words | 6 Pages

Introduction: ‘Tracks of the Missing’ is a book authored by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler, it is a part of the mystery/teen drama book genre. Summary: Deklan ‘Dek’ Archer is a teenage boy living in a remote area attending a school mixed with aboriginal/indigenous kids and up-town rich kids. Deklan himself is aboriginal and there has always been a divide in town between the two ethnic groups. The mysterious death of Old Henry is the new talk of this small town, and the elders of the aboriginal community suspect something bigger and more powerful is at play.

Read More

The Role Of Deception In Nella Larsen's Passing

575 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

Breaking Through Sparknotes

782 Words | 4 Pages

Nitya Dharawat English 6A 1/23/23 Five Paragraph Essay Final Draft Striving for a Better Way of Life Breaking Through is an autobiography by Francisco Jimenez and is about his difficulties being an immigrant from Mexico. Francisco and his family decide to immigrate from Mexico to America so they can live a life without poverty. They have been doing their best to achieve a better life in America. Throughout the book they are struggling to earn enough money, find shelter, and learn English.

Read More

Theme Of Identity In Passing By Nella Larson

1148 Words | 5 Pages

Identity is an important aspect in the novel Passing by Nella Larson, and it is tied within race, socioeconomic class, and gender. However this novel challenges the very notion of self- perception and how circumstances regarding your race, gender, and overall identity can change as you encounter obstacles and adversities ; as seen with Irene Redfield who’s own self-identity especially with respect to her race, family, and general livelihood is morphed and challenged with the reemergence of Clare in her life. One of Irene’s early encounters with Clare, the one where Irene is introduced to Clare’s husband, reveals how even though identity is such a pivotal part of one’s character we must still adapt to and act accordingly to the

Read More

African American Identity In Nella Larson's Passing

409 Words | 2 Pages

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.”

Read More

Motherhood In Nella Larsen's Passing

1484 Words | 6 Pages

It is often said that a new definition of a woman arose in the 1920s. But is that true? While most women experienced many newfound freedoms in the 1920s, black women could not explore these freedoms as easily as white women. In the novel Passing by Nella Larsen, Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry grew up in Chicago together and are now both two wives and mothers in New York City during the 1920s, but there is a big difference between them. The novel’s title refers to light-skinned black women masquerading as white women for social benefits.

Read More

Inner Conflict In Nella Larsen's Passing

981 Words | 4 Pages

Racism was always a big issue and still occurs today. The story “Passing” took place in the 1920’s during the Harlem Renaissance and it spoke about the term “Passing” which indicates that African American’s who looked lighted skin can go to public places without being discriminated. In “Passing” Nella Larsen demonstrates how racism causes jealousy, resentment, and dishonesty in relationships. The idea is conveyed through inner conflict, the conflict between the main characters and how the Harlem Renaissance period inflicts tension in relationships.

Read More

Passing Nella Larsen Analysis

1551 Words | 7 Pages

Passing, a novel by Nella Larsen, addresses the issue of race by telling the story of two African American women - Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield - who represent different aspects of passing1. In the novel, passing refers to the process of crossing the color line, where a light skinned person who belongs to the black racial community enjoys white privilege2. However, people who pass struggle with double consciousness as they long to honor their race without necessarily being associated with it3. The novel is highly invested in ambiguity to show the fluidity and complexity of race, and how it paves the way for passing4. Passing illustrates the struggle African Americans face with their unchosen race and their attempt to control their identity

Read More

Passing By Nella Larsen Summary

1553 Words | 7 Pages

But then, Irene notices that Clare’s husband does not know anything about her racial identity. Besides, when Clare’s husband keeps making fun of the black race, Clare does not get attitude towards her husband even though she is a black. Larsen refers that “he roared with laughter. Clare’s ringing bell-like laugh joined his.” In this case, Clare already accustoms to this desperate situation.

Read More

Nella Larsen Passing Analysis

1919 Words | 8 Pages

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.

Read More

'A Mask Of Deception In Passing'

374 Words | 2 Pages

Running into Irene made Clare realize she missed her culture, her friends, the lifestyle and sense of belonging. She could never really feel a true sense of belonging in the white community, because after all her whole world was a lie. She spent her life trying to “pass”, in essence wearing a mask of deception. “Passing” was a deception. This deception was a choice.

Read More

Theme Of Passing In Literature Essay

912 Words | 4 Pages

A common theme in literature is the notion of “passing”, especially in works about race. Passing is where a character takes on another identity to meet an objective. This could be trying to escape racial persecution or to obtain a better economic status. One example is Birdie, the main character of Caucaisa, who is forced to pass as Jesse Goldman a white Jewish girl. In the novel Caucasia by Danzy Senna the protagonist Birdie “passes” as a white girl to escape from the FBI, but it takes a toll on her identity and it diminishes her sense of self.

Read More

More about Passing Sparknotes

Related Topics

Open Document