Nella Larson's Passing

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Race and identity are two intertwined, complicated, and multifaceted concepts that influence an individual’s experiences and behavior; these notions are the foundation of Nella Larson’s Passing. Set during the Harlem Renaissance, this story centers around Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry, two African American women who can be seen as white. The story commences when Irene receives an extravagant yet mysterious letter from Clare in which she recounts their fateful meeting in Chicago. During the encounter, Clare reveals that she has riskily crossed the boundaries of race by living as a white woman married to a bigoted and racist white man named Jack Bellew, unaware of her true identity; however, Clare’s white life proves to be insufficient for …show more content…
Her irritation is the result of her constant need for complete control, since only under her direction can the things around her remain truly fixed and secure; the text articulates, “It was only that she wanted him to be happy, resenting, however, his inability to be so with things as they were, and never acknowledging that though she did want him to be happy, it was only in her own way and by some plan of hers for him that she truly desired him to be
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Nella Larson's Passing Analysis

The act of passing is for someone of a particular group of people acting as if they are a part of another group. The most common use of this act is racial passing. This happens when a person of one race, usually a minority group, most commonly African American, passes as another race, most commonly Caucasian. The lighter the skin of the person the easier this is to accomplish. Race is not the only way to pass however. People pass whenever they attempt to fit into a group in which they do not belong…

Words 703 - Pages 3