Introduction
This paper will focus on a novel published in 1929 that explores the complexities of racial identity. The author is Nella Larsen – a prominent American novelist in the first half of the twentieth century. The book itself is titled “Passing” referring to the practice of disguising oneself as a representative of another race. The story follows an African American woman, Irene Redfield encountering her childhood friend Clare Kendry and finding about the practice of black people passing as white. As they communicate, Irene comes to reject the practice and begins distancing herself from Clare. As Clare’s identity is revealed, she suddenly dies, leaving the nature of her death a mystery. Larsen argues throughout the novel that social discrimination forces minorities to forego their identity, thus destroying their individuality and lives.
Financial Benefits of Passing
The theme can clearly be seen in the way the protagonist Irene first interacts with Clare. In order to understand the significance of the first conversation between Irene and Clare, it is essential to examine their background. Although both girls are African American, Clare has lighter skin, which she uses to convince people that she is actually white. Meanwhile, Irene accepts her ethnicity, even though she does realize the disadvantages of being perceived as black, such as lacking money. Irene and Clare were childhood friends but did not see each other for twelve years until they suddenly met on the street. The subsequent conversation highlights Irene’s perception of Clare and her own status.
Irene is clearly distressed with her social limitations and envious of the freedom that Clare experiences. It is evident in the internal struggle that transpires in her mind, when Clare describes the benefit of passing as white. As Larsen writes, “her reason partly agreed, her instinct wholly rebelled” (39). The financial benefits of passing are also acknowledged in Juanita Ellsworth’s “White Negroes” found in “Contemporary Coverage of Passing and Race”, which presents accounts of black people using various strategies to make money (110). The reason why this is important to the main theme lies in the obstacles that social segregation created for non-white individuals, who are pressured into conforming to white-driven social norms.
Mental Pressure of Passing
Another expression of the theme can be seen in the way Clare communicates with Irene. Clare’s letters are an important part of the interaction between the characters. However, aside from being plot devices, these letters provide insight into Clare’s character depth. Specifically, they showcase her as a struggling woman who lacks connection and does have doubts about her way of life. One postscript is especially revealing – “It may be, ’Rene dear, it may just be, that, after all, your way may be the wiser and infinitely happier one” (Larsen 48). Such a choice of words implies hidden unhappiness that Clare experiences. Not only does she need a friend, but she also fears that her actions have been wrong.
Dual live enabled by passing takes a mental toll people who have to pretend that they are not who they really are. “3,000 Negroes Cross the Line Each Year” in “Contemporary Coverage of Passing and Race” relays a testament of a bishop regarding the average number of African Americans who had to forego their identity (111). Although lives of these people did improve physically, the psychological pressure was still prevalent, which is also the case with Clare. The reason why this is important to the main theme lies in the fact that passing is a form of deception that allowed Clare to obtain higher status and more freedom. Yet, it also trapped her and made her feel lonely and needy for connection and understanding.
Children’s Vulnerability
The third way Irene’s interaction with Clare addresses the main theme is the confrontational nature of Irene’s later rhetoric. As Irene becomes disillusioned with the advantages of passing, she begins to point out the consequences to Clare. The most important aspect of passing is maintaining the secret of one’s identity. Probably, the most vulnerable to this risk are children of parents who disguise their ethnicity. Clare explicitly states why she does not want to bear any more children: “I nearly died of terror the whole nine months before Margery was born for fear that she might be dark” (Larsen 43). Even though Margery’s skin did not reveal her identity, such possibility still remains.
The risk of disclosure is a menace because women were dependent on their husbands. Cheryl A. Wall also accentuates the influence of men on women in her piece “Passing for What? Aspects of Identity in Nella Larsen’s Novels” found in the “Criticism” section. On the surface, Clare has freed herself from the barriers associated with being a black person. Yet, she has to conform to a white woman’s way of life, which was highly dependent on men. Irene warns that the same fate awaits Margery as well if her identity is disclosed (Larsen 57). The reason why this is important to the main theme lies in negative repercussions that passing inevitably leads to.
Clare’s Demise
The final manifestation of the theme is the end of Irene’s relationship with Clare. By the end of the novel, Irene has rejected the idea of passing, while Clare remains steadfast in her worldview. However, Irene is also unnerved and emotionally unstable as she is worried about Clare and her future. It is evident as she fails to confide to Felise (Larsen 71) and in her warning to Clare regarding Margery’s fate (Larsen 74). The final interaction between Irene and Clare is also the climax of the story – as Clare’s identity is disclosed she is found dead with a heavy implication that Irene pushed her out of a window.
The exact nature of Clare’s death is an intentional mystery of the story. The “Criticism” section presents different opinions from Mar Helen Washington who thinks that it was a suicide (353) to Mary Mabel Youman who clearly frames Irene as a murderer (337). Yet, the culprit behind Clare’s death is not as important as the overall consequences of discrimination and loss of identity are. It is segregation that forces Clare into passing and a deeply emotional identity crisis. The tragic end emphasizes the novel’s theme and message that discrimination leads to people assuming artificial identities, which destroy their lives, both mentally and physically.
Conclusion
Overall, Larsen uses Clare’s and Irene’s characters as examples of different strategies minorities adopt while trying to conform to discriminatory society. The emphasis on the benefits of passing explains why it was a feasible option for some people. Clare’s psychological suffering accentuates the mental consequences that disguising one’s origin can have, while explanation of children’s vulnerability represents the physical consequences. Finally, the tragic end of Clare and the novel highlight how destructive racism is. In the modern world, where racial issues are prevalent again, understanding the lessons of classic literature is important in constructing society, which would not force some people to hide their identity.
Works Cited
“Contemporary Coverage of Passing and Race.” Passing: Authoritative Text, Backgrounds and Contexts, Criticism, edited by Carla Kaplan, Norton & Copmany, 2007, pp. 105–127.
“Criticism.” Passing: Authoritative Text, Backgrounds and Contexts, Criticism, edited by Carla Kaplan, Norton & Company, 2007, pp. 337–530.
Larsen, Nella. Passing. Penguin Books Limited, 2020.