Nella Larsen's Passing

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Nella Larsen's "Passing" shows different stories of women who are passing. Passing is when a person is classified as a member of one racial group and that is also accepted as a member of a different racial group. In Nella Larsen's "Passing" Clare Kendry is a African American woman passing as white. She has been hiding her true identity from her racist husband and the rest of her family and her friends expect for Irene Redfield and Gertrude Martin. Clare also makes it very clear that she is giving up on her past and is trying to make things "right" for her daughter. Clare's secret comes out and there are major consequences.

Clare Kendry the daughter of a janitor and a black mother who died when she was small. At the time of her father's …show more content…
She knew how low her morals and would have done whatever she wanted at any cost. Clare never has any intention of being loyal to one race or the other. She is only concerned with her self. Clare would lie, cheat, and steal if it made her happy. She has been doing so for more than half her life. "Irene passed a hand over her eyes to shut out the accusing face in the glass before her with one corner of her mind she wondered how long she had looked like that, drawn and haggard and- yes frightened. Or was it only imagination?"(Pg.85). Clare has not been looking like herself because she's been stressed about wanting to tell Jack the truth. By the end of the novel all has come to light and Clare finally get her chance to possibly tell jack the truth, but this moment is stolen from her."One moment Clare had been there, a vital glowing thing, like a flame of red and gold. The next she was gone"(pg.91). Clare Kendry died that night. She had not suffered ever for her deceptive actions until her untimely death.

In Nella Larsen's Passing Clare Kendry is a African American woman passing as white. She has been hiding her true identity from her racist husband and the rest of her family and her friends except for Irene Redfield and Gertrude Martin. Clare also makes it very clear that she is giving up on her past and is trying to make things "right" for her daughter. Clare's secret comes out and there are major consequences. Nella Larsen put this in her book because it shows the challenges that people had when they were
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