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Summary Of Passing By Nella Larson

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In the novel Passing, the author, Nella Larson, uses Clare and Irene to express the struggles and hardships that Black people faced in the 1920’s in America. During these rough times, some Black people chose to “pass” to escape the struggles that they faced during this time. However, this choice could sometimes put them in a more dangerous situation. In the novel, Clare chooses to pass, and she marries a very racist white man. This puts her in two predicaments. First, if her husband were to find out that she was passing, it wouldn’t end up well for her. Second, she gets detached from the Black community, where she was raised. In the book, Clare tries to reconnect with her race, but Irene doesn’t welcome her with open arms. “No, Clare Kendry cared …show more content…

Clare’s decision to pass creates a difference between the personalities of Irene and Clare. Irene thinks that Clare has a very narcissistic personality, and can convince anyone into doing anything. Irene doesn’t like Clare, but Clare always finds a way to get to Irene. For example, when Irene says “What was it about Clare’s voice that was so appealing, so very seductive? (pg. 34)” Irene thinks that Clare has a way of always getting her way due to her voice and looks. However, when Irene encounters Clare’s racist husband, Jack, in New York, “She was caught between two allegiances.Herself. Her race. (pg.101).” She could alert Clare that Jack was back in town, when he was supposed to be in Philadelphia, or she could let Clare get caught, and finally get her out of her life. She decides not to tell Clare, resulting in the death of Clare. When Clare comes into the picture, Irene's relationship with her husband weakens. They begin arguing, and Irene senses a feeling of discontent with Brian. One day, the family is talking about the inappropriate things that Junior is learning in

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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.

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In a conversation about passing, Clare describes how she successfully passes over and what exactly it is that makes her so successful in doing so. Irene, curious to know how, asks these questions because she cannot believe the fact that Clare has abandoned her background and where she comes from. She then comes to the conclusion that as Clare has no background to present to the white community, she must have made up stories. In Passing, the author Nella Larsen enhances this passage in numerous ways in order to provide meaning. The importance of this conversation is emphasized by the diction used to create significant meaning, the supporting of themes presented throughout the novella, and the details regarding arising conflicts throughout the novella.

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In the novel, Passing by Nella Larsen, the author explores the theme of the racial passing taking place in the United States during the 1920s. The story takes place in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City in the 1920s, the novel focuses on the reunion of two childhood friends of mixed-race descent. Irene Redfield’s struggle is to keep her charmed existence away from Clare Kendry. In an analysis of this text, the reader understands how the author portrays the crossing the racial boundaries between blacks and whites bring advantages and tragedy.

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Around 1920s, passing was a big deal because many people that had a chance to not be recognized as a black person would love to pass for another race. Nella Larsen's novel, Passing, is about two women who reunite from many years and one character, Irene, doesn't want to accept the other character, Clare, back into her life. They both are fair skin woman who can pass and Clare does exactly that. The purpose of the novel is to showcase the racial aspect of passing but after analyzing the book, I realize that not only is race being passed in the book but sexuality is also being passed in the book. "Since the term "passing" carries the connotation of being accepted for something one is not, the title of the novel serves as a metaphor for a wide

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The Passing by Nella Larson captures the clash between the status quo and the weakening driving forces of change that young African-American women faced in the 1920’s. The novel introduces the dynamic of two pale-skinned African-American women, Irene and Clare who are childhood friends that are light enough to pass for “white”. Though Irene chooses to live as a black woman, she’s only a part of the black community seemingly as she practices white standards while living as a black woman. On the other hand, Clare chooses to live as a white woman as she adjusts any behavior, appearance, and etc. to break any ties between her and black culture, but ultimately, she tries to find a way back into the black community.

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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.”

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This quotation relates to the novel Passing because it shows the friendship between two childhood friends who rekindle their friendship as grown adults. The novel Passing, written by Nella Larsen talks about two African American woman with different experiences. The relationship between the two African American woman who share two different lifestyles, but similar in different ways. Throughout the novel it is seen that both characters have many similarities and differences. Irene is a colored woman who is married with two children.

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Throughout Nella Larsen 's novel Passing the protagonist, Irene Redfield, finds herself drawn to the character, Clare Kendry despite repeatedly attempting to create distance between herself and Clare. Although she opposes the idea of passing on the surface, Irene finds herself occasionally passing for small luxuries not afforded dark skinned people. During one such excursion, Irene runs into Clare, a childhood friend who long ago decided to permanently pass, after the death of her father, by marrying a wealthy, exceedingly racist, white man, John Bellew. It is Clare’s connection to such an intensely racist man, along with the threat that he poses Clare should he learn of her racial background, that forces Irene to withdraw from her. Ultimately, Irene, time and time again, despite her desire for distance for both her sake and Clare’s, finds herself captivated by Clare out of unrecognized interest in her fascinating presence; understanding this connection allows the reader to better understand the dynamics between Irene and all the characters.

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Ca’ren Franklin Dr. Vargas 30 April 2024 While exploring the complex ideas and motifs woven throughout my artistic endeavor, a remarkable resemblance emerges between Nella Larsen's groundbreaking book Passing and the symbolic meaning embedded in Erzulie's Skirt. Both are important platforms for investigating identity, exploring dualism in dimensions, and scrutinizing the standards that are currently in place in society. In her novel Passing, Nella Larsen masterfully explores racist occurrences and the intricacies of racial identity in early 20th-century America. Within this rich tapestry, one such instance is when Irene Redfield, who has a fair complexion, encounters discrimination in her native community because of her choice to identify as African American. Her

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