Stereotypes In Passing

The tragic mulatto can never, and will never, experience life in the eyes of a pure white woman or a pure black woman. Nella Larsen’s novel, Passing, perpetuates the “Tragic Mulatto” stereotype - the idea that light-skinned biracial women lead depressing lives and only find peace in death. Larsen exemplifies this stereotype through Clare Kendry, a mulatto woman who “passes” for white, marries a white bigoted man, and lives a life of secrecy concealing her African American lineage. Clare Kendry manifests the “Tragic Mulatto” stereotype because she is portrayed as a sexual seductress, associates only with the white race, and finds liberation from her troubles through death, essentially suggesting that the tragic mulatto is neither accepted nor

Clare arrives at Irene’s door after not getting a response back from her letter. Irene suggests that they don’t contact each other again because it can put Clare in potential danger. They get into an argument about the whole idea of “passing” (again) and Clare ultimately comes to the realization that “‘no one is ever completely happy, or free, or safe (Larsen 67).’” Comparing each other’s lives side by side reveal that they both, although on opposite borders of the colorline, are never satisfied, free, and immune from harm; Clare is constantly having to conceal her race, which is a large part of her identity. Eventually, John Bellow, her very bigoted husband, discovers Clare’s biracial identity. All her life, she’s been concealing this major part of her. In a blink of an eye, her lie, practically her whole life, is torn apart. She (assumably) commits suicide as an escape from further anxiety and distress; she has tried everything possible to lead a happy, free, and safe life, however, it seems unattainable. Clare Kendry, as the “Tragic Mulatto” stereotype states, only finds peace through death, ultimately suggesting that the tragic mulatto can and will never feel included by the black or white