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The Characterization Of Irene Redfield In Passing By Nella Larsen

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As one of the two main characters, Irene Redfield is the childhood friend of Clare Kendry, the wife of Brian Redfield – a sufficient black doctor in Harlem, and mother of two sons – Brian, Jr., and Ted. In Nella Larsen’s novel, “Passing”, the perimeters & dimensions of Irene Redfield’s personality are explored - through vivid descriptions and close attention to detail in the current time of the plot. To further describe Irene Redfield’s characterization, the first specific trait that pertains is her self-dignified vehement towards elements present in her life. An example of this trait is shown when: Irene insinuated Clare “cared nothing for the race - only belonging to it” months after the situation involving John saying the “n-word” [p. 1105] …show more content…

The next specific trait towards her characterization is the vague aura of allurement surrounding her presence. An example of this trait occurs when she engages in a conversation with Hugh Wentworth, about Clare during the NWL performance – as he finished the final stanza of a nursery rhyme, “Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, doctor, lawyer, Indian chief” [p.1118] she was saying to herself. This quote specifically demonstrated her ability to attract the presence of others in coincidental timing, due to the basis of the conversation pertaining from Clare to a discussion about passing. A final supportive example of this trait is displayed when Clare grabbed Irene’s hand at the 2nd re-encounter, with “Irene ... had a sudden inexplicable onrush of affectionate feeling. Reaching out, she grasped Clare's two hands” [p.1112] encompassing power that highlighted her attractive appeal. Furthermore, this prompted the speculation of Irene and Clare having an intimate, mutual attraction. In conclusion, these two specific traits encapsulate the perimeters of Irene Redfield, a compelling character that is cognizant of the balance between intuition and introspection in her reality, possessive of qualities to a desirable presence, and a heightened sense of obligation towards her

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Irene placing her hand on Clare’s arm, literally moments before she falls out the window, perspicuously evidences this. Though the author leaves the cause of Clare Kendry’s death open-ended, its clear that Irene pushed her, being driven by intense jealousy and anger towards Clare.

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But was he anything more?”(113) This quote may not what Irene truly feels about Brian, as her fears of the affair with Clare may distort her view. However, I think it does hold some truth. She never really shows affection to Brian, outside of the public eye. She doesn’t really need him, except for money and to look good to society.

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According to Landry, Nella Larsen wrote Passing to furtively cover a subject that was more taboo than the racial issues of the early twentieth century. Specifically the issues that mulatto women faced when assimilating into the white world without self-identifying. Landry states that it was safe for Nella Larsen to write a story about the subject of the mulatto women while interweaving a love affair between two women. Landry argues that “ women of mixed ethnicity fear being defined by other African Americans as race traitors if they resist sexual and gender norms”(26) and that the direct consequence of defying the social norms of the era would be self-loathing and blame. Landry goes on to explain that the negative feelings toward their selves

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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 the 1920s and 1930s, blacks were treated differently, discriminated against, and faced with racism every day. In 1929, at the peak of the harsh treatment towards the blacks, Passing, by Nella Larsen, was published. Larsen demonstrates how blacks were limited in society, since they were constrained by the racism they faced. The favored race, whites, were shown to be supreme to blacks, as Larsen illuminated throughout Passing.

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That smile and and the quiet resolution […] filled [Irene’s] feet like ice, her heart like a stone weight. Even her tongue was like a heavy dying thing”(Larsen 75). The interaction shows the attitudes of the two woman towards their efforts to pass as something they are not. Clare acts indifferently to the prospect of being discovered and simply fits in by doing as little as possible, while Irene lives in constant fear of not fitting in correctly as she attempts to make the social climb.

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She uses the words ‘died’, ‘terror’, ‘fear’, ‘dark’, ‘risk’, ‘strain’, and ‘hellish’; which are all words associated with danger or negativity. In contrast, Irene enjoys being a mother and always thinks about her children when making decisions. She feels motherhood is a strong life-long responsibility that can definitely be stressful, but is worth it in the long run. She feels such an obligation to her children that she puts their needs before hers. “Nor did she admit that all other plans, all other ways, she regarded as menaces, more or less

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For instance, there is a conflict in the relationship between Irene and Clare because Clare wants to reconnect with her old life, nevertheless this causes instability in Irene’s secure lifestyle. Clare secretly visits and spends time with Irene’s family which causes jealousy because change occurs. Clare’s frequent visits causes Irene to: “secretly resenting these visits to the playroom, for some obscure reason which shied away from putting into words, never requested that make an end of them, or hinted that she wouldn’t spoiled her own Margaery outrageously nor be so friendly with white servants” (63). This indicates that Clare is spending time at the Redfield’s tying to pass as a black woman trying to live as an African American woman while forgetting about her own responsibilities with her own daughter. In addition, Irene feels insecure that Clare will jeopardize her role as a mother at the Redfield residence.

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Throughout the book, Irene starts to grow a hatred for Clare and her passing, so she says, “No, Clare Kendry cared nothing for the race. She only belonged to it.” (52) This quote shows how Irene really feels about Clare passing. She thinks Clare doesn't care about her race at all, but Clare likely thinks otherwise.

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During the twentieth century, many African American’s found themselves trying to obtain a place in society by often passing as white. Many desire to escape the stenotypes created by this dominated society at any cost. However with this spectacle of passing many blacks faced conflicts and risks the consequences of being caught. Nella Larsen’s Passing (1929) describes the life of two light skinned women who sometimes “pass” in their society in order to gain social opportunities. These characters struggle with their identities, an uncertainty of belongings to a particular race.

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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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Through the experiences of their characters and themselves, these authors demonstrate the emotional and psychological toll that passing as white can take on individuals. Passing as white, which is the act of hiding one's racial identity in order to escape discrimination, can lead to a loss of one's true identity and a disconnection from one's sense of self. This is illustrated in Larsen's novel through the characters of Irene and Clare, who both choose to pass as white but ultimately realize the limitations and drawbacks of this decision. Similarly, in McWilliams' and Lusasik's personal accounts, it is shown that passing as white can lead to alienation, disconnection, and emotional turmoil. Furthermore, these works also highlight the societal pressure and discrimination that individuals of color face, which can lead them to make the decision to pass as white.

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Nella Larsen’s Passing is a novella about the past experiences of African American women ‘passing’ as whites for equal opportunities. Larsen presents the day to day issues African American women face during their ‘passing’ journey through her characters of Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry. During the reading process, we progressively realize ‘passing’ in Harlem, New York during the 1920’s becomes difficult for both of these women physically and mentally as different kinds of challenges approach ahead. Although Larsen decides the novella to be told in a third person narrative, different thoughts and messages of Irene and Clare communicate broken ideas for the reader, causing the interpretation of the novella to vary from different perspectives.

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