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Race And Identity In Irene Larsen's Passing

748 Words3 Pages

Race is a concept of grouping people with similar physical characteristics. Such a concept is commonly used to categorize people, but the identity of a person is defined by inner feelings rather than physical features. However, finding individual identity can be troubling at times because of the societal pressure on the concept of race. Irene Redfield, a character in Nella Larsen’s Passing, faces racial change as her friend, Clare Kendry, undergoes passing. Through this new change, Irene is able to gain a new perspective and a better understanding of the world. Through Irene's ambiguous point of view on race and her interactions with Clare, Larsen emphasizes the significance of race, identity, and society. Larsen stresses the importance of …show more content…

When meeting Clare, Irene expresses her disdain, “Clare Kendry cares nothing for the race. She only belonged to it” (Larsen 61). The lighter skin color of Clare enables her to benefit from the same advantages as a white woman despite being of African American descent. As Clare identifies herself as a white woman through passing, Irene recognizes that Clare no longer associates herself with her African American heritage and passed on her previous race. Irene believes Clare has no regard for her African dynasty, therefore she views her as offensive. However, after speaking with Clare, Irene wishes, “Sitting alone… Irene Redfield wished, for the first time in her life that she had not been born a negro. She suffered and rebelled from the burden of race” (Larsen 113). Irene seems to contradict the beginning of the novel where she boasted about her African heritage. Now conflicted, Irene finds herself realizing the harshness of having dark skin when she hears about Clare’s life. Because of Irene’s struggling marriage, She starts questioning whether the life she chose is the right one. Contemplating, Irene finds it hard to uncover her true identity of who she wants to be. The pressure from society makes Irene doubt her previous beliefs which align with Clare’s experience with the world before she passed. The constant exchange of feelings and insights between Irene and Clare allows Irene to widen her perspective to a better understanding of race, identity, and

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