Summary Of Passing By Nella Larsen

In Nella Larsen’s Passing, Irene Redfield, the central character of the book, spends a lot of time near windows. Windows are found throughout the book, and they are a place where Irene and Clare are able to reflect upon their emotions. Irene expresses a range of emotions throughout the duration of the novel. At the beginning of the novel, Irene’s demeanor is calm, but at the end of the book, she is more reckless emotionally. Depending on the circumstances in which Irene is looking out of a window, we are able to determine her emotional state at that point in time. In examining Irene’s emotional state, it becomes evident that there is a link between her emotions and her domestic security.

When Irene reflects on her experience in Chicago, she

On page 71 Larsen writes, “she [Irene] had risen again as she spoke and was standing at the window lifting and spreading the small yellow chrysanthemums in the grey stone jar on the sill. Her hands shook slightly, for she was in a near rage of impatience and exasperation” (71). Before Irene turns to look out of the window, she is trying to convince Clare not to go to the Negro Welfare League dance, even using Clare’s husband as a possible deterrent, yet she is adamant on going to the event. Irene’s irritation in this moment comes from the fact that Clare is now trying to be more involved in her life, yet Irene can’t outwardly express her disinterest in Clare’s companionship. Clare’s sudden interest in associating with Black people again upsets Irene as she believes that Clare Kendry “cared nothing for the race. She only belonged to it” (52). For Irene, race is extremely important to her and for her to see Clare suddenly care about her race angers her. Clare’s increased presence in her life shakes her everyday life up potentially causing the exasperation and impatience she feels towards her. However, even though Irene begs Clare not to go, she eventually acquiesces to Clare and allows her to come to the dance with her, a common occurrence between the two: Irene not wanting Clare to be around her, Clare protesting, and Irene giving up to Clare. This shows that even though Clare annoys Irene and she’d rather not associate with

Irene has become convinced that Clare and Brian are having an affair, and she spends most of the party sulking in the corner before opening up the window (110). Up until this point, each time a window has been mentioned it has been closed. The opening of the window symbolizes Irene’s anger towards Clare reaching a boiling point because on the next page Irene becomes infuriated by the sight of the Clare smiling once John discovers that Clare is indeed Black (111). This mention of Clare by the window is the only time we see Clare next to a window. Each time Irene has been next to a window she is reflecting on how experiences have impacted her life negatively, but for Clare, she’s smiling next to the window even though her lie has fallen apart. This is because while Clare secret has been exposed, she will finally be free from the life that she’s been living and will be free to live with other Black people, and this angers Irene because it implies that Clare will now be able to spend more time with the Redfields (and continue her “affair” with Brian). Due to the ambiguity of the ending, one can not definitively say whether or not Irene was responsible for Clare’s death, but Irene does lay her hand on Clare’s arm before she falls out of the window (111). The book ends with the detective saying, “‘Let’s go up and have another look at that window’” (114), bringing Clare and Irene’s story full circle.