Summary Of Passing By Nella Larson

Passing by Nella Larson is a very ambiguous story. This book took place in the 1920s during the Harlem Renaissance. For quite some time American history racism has been an issue. Nella Larsen herself had been one of the women who wrote during this period of time. The story itself is about two women who are passing to be white, Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield. In the story Clare was brought out to be classified as dangerous, Irene became jealous of Clare, and Irene was having homicidal thoughts throughout the book. Clare Kendy’s fall from the window was a homicide. Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield have not had contact with each other in 12 years, one day just by chance they had met again. When they first come together everything seems to be

In the text is states, “It hurt. It hurt like hell. But it didn’t matter, if no one knew. If everything could go on as before. If the boys were safe”(108). Irene is starting to question herself as a person, and what she values. She starts to think that Clare is the most beautiful women ever, and becomes in a way attracted to her. Things were really starting to get to her head, Irene’s mental state has been deteriorating since the beginning of the book. It seems to me that Clare is getting into Irene’s head the most. With Clare in her head, she starts to question her marriage with Brian. All she really cares about is if her boys are okay. Irene is overthinking the situation and making things worse for herself than they they already seem to be. With Brian and Irene already having a not so stable relationship, she’s blaming it on Clare being the reason why. She tries to get it out of her head, but it does not work

They do not really stick out first, because you do not know the book is going to end the way it did. Irene said some things that seemed odd, but were never put into context. In the text it states, "If Clare should die! Then-- Oh, it was vile! to think, yes, to wish that!...But the thought stayed with her. She could not get rid of it”(116). This expresses that Irene doesn’t feel bad if anything happens to Clare. Like it’s sad to say that, but that is what it seems to be. In the first place why would she be thinking about Clare potentially dying? And keep thinking about it, it is not okay. The thought stayed lingering in her mind, which really does not make sense why, until the very end of the book. Also in the story, "Irene laughed a little, then said: It seems dreadfully warm in here. Mind if I open this windows”(127). With her opening the window, it sure doesn’t mean that she was planning to hurt Clare in any way it could have been just a coincidence. As you get further through the text there is a vulgar scene that goes on, Irene lays a hand on Clare’s arm. Next thing you know, she isn’t there anymore. In the book Irene says, “Irene wasn’t sorry. She was amazed, incredulous almost”(129). She was feeling no remorse for what had happened, Irene was only thinking about herself at this