Summary Of Passing By Nella Larsen

Passing by Nella Larsen revolves around two light-skinned African American women who deal with the social duality of their skin tones. Passing is defined as when a mixed or light-skinned black person poses as a white person. Larsen deals primarily with the issue of colorism which is a form of discrimination by which individuals with lighter skin tones are treated better than individuals with darker skin. The discussion of passing can be noted in the two main characters, Irene and Clare. Irene Redfield, the main character, is a well-known member of the Harlem community. Clare, unlike Irene chooses to "pass" as white. Throughout the novel, the reader is made aware of the psychological battle of these two women and black women in general, as well as the social benefits and consequences of passing. Larsen details the undesirability of dark skin in 1920s American culture, a stigma that persists even today; both within white America and ironically, the African American community itself.

On the contrary, Gertrude’s sanity never really becomes a subject of question by any character within the story, but one cannot believe she maintains a healthy state of mind if she considered marrying her husband’s brother. It does not help her case that Claudius killed her husband. She loves him undyingly in a way only a mad person could. Hamlet wonders how on earth she would willingly marry her husband’s brother only two months after his death. “A little month; or ere those shoes were old With which she followed my poor father 's body Like Niobe, all tears; — why she, even she, (O God! a beast that wants discourse of reason, Would have mourn 'd longer!) married with mine uncle, My father 's brother; but no more like my father Than I to Hercules: within a month; Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears Had left the flushing in her galled

Nella larsen's passing disrupts the traditional conception of racial, ethnic and gender integrity. Larsens has revolutionized the idea of acceptance of one's self identity.Larsen wrote this novel in the height of the Harlem Renaissance . An era that is known for its growth and expanse in the artistic explosion that happened in Harlem between the end of World War I and the middle of the 1930s. During this period Harlem was a cultural center, drawing black writers, artists, poets, and educated people. Many had come from the South, running away from its terrible mistreatment and social class system in order to find a place where they could freely express their talents. It involved racial pride, fueled in part by the aggressiveness of the "New Negro" demanding civil and political rights. The Renaissance incorporated jazz and the blues, attracting whites to Harlem, where couples danced. While it may have

Throughout the second part of Passing by Nella Larsen, the reasons for each of the women passing seem to be revealed. Also, these chapters awaken many questions like “Why didn’t Clare stand up for herself?”, “Why didn’t Clare come clean?”, and “If Clare wants to rejoin the community, would she leave John?”. These questions start to arise in the beginning of part two, when John mentions that “They always come back. I’ve seen it happen time and time again.” (pg. 55). This contributes to the idea that Clare might feel regret for passing permanently for so long, and leaves the reader wondering why she didn’t come clean if she wants to rejoin the black community.

Passing seems like a fictional action, yet we still approve of it in today’s society. In the novel, “Passing” Nella Larsen speaks on how passing may not be all as cool as it may seem. How race seems to be something you choose, but with that multiple consequences, like hiding your race from your own husband. “That no one is ever completely happy, or free, or safe (Larsen 101). Clare explaining how being able to pass has challenges and problems. She felt trapped, having to be a race that it not your’s and struggle to know where you belong. In addition, as Clare passes as white, it is not as glamorous or fun as it seems, she just wanted to find her place. Being able to pass makes it difficult to choose and be happy. You have to pick one and will

Nella Larsen’s novel, Passing, embodies the cultural and social dimension of 1920's America. America in the 1920s was a culture mostly dominated by prosperity. The 1920s was also the beginning of the most important movement concerning African Americans. One of the most profound contributors to the Harlem Renaissance was Nella Larsen. Larsen's novel is about two light skinned African American women who pass as white.

One of the more subtle themes discussed in the novel is social class. The night of the Negro Welfare League (N.W.L.) dance, Irene describes Clare as being “exquisite, golden, fragrant” (Larsen 112), amongst other things. After a word search for “gold” was done, it was determined that Larsen used that colour to mostly describe women,

Gertrude recounts her death: “Clambering to hang, and envious silver broke, / When down her weedy trophies and herself/ Fell in the weeping brook” (Ham. 4.7.170-173). She sits on a weak branch hanging over the water to embellish it with a flower garland, and it breaks under her weight. Ophelia with “Her clothes spread wide” and “mermaid-like” (Ham. 4.7.172-173), gently floating along the soft current, portrays an elegant scene. Gertrude’s narration beautifies Ophelia’s death with the description of nature and her name of innocence. Ophelia still “chanted snatches of old tunes” (Ham. 4.7.174), until the water “Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay / To muddy death” (Ham.

The scene opens with Gertrude’s refusal to see the distraught Ophelia. “I will not speak with her,” (4.5.1), says the Queen to the gentleman who reports about Ophelia’s madness – “She is importunate, indeed distract,” (4.5.2). Additionally, [she] “speaks things in doubt that carry but half sense.” (4.5.6-7). Horatio points out that “’twere good she were spoken with,” (4.5.14), as “she may stew dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.” (4.5.14-15). The Queen, who was unsympathetic to Ophelia’s troubles, sees the threat of political unrest and changes her mind about seeing the girl. To herself, Gertrude murmurs, “So full of artless jealousy is guilt / It spills itself in fearing to be spilt,” (4.5.19-20). We observe the customary rhyme towards

As in “A Rose for Emily,” Gertrude can also be considered as a lady, which grants her powers which other women do not have in the society. She is able to get away with marrying her brother-in-law after the death of her husband, and no one in the society dare say anything. Although she is not a victim of class structures, she is still affected by gender issues. One instance where this is the case is in the beginning of the play where Hamlet is angry about the marriage of her mother and Claudius. Instead of mentioning, "Frailty, thy name is Gertrude!"

Through Hamlet’s soliloquies, an audience is exposed to hi belief that Gertrude has betrayed his father. In Elizabethan times, Gertrude’s marriage to Hamlet may have been regarded as incestuous and unlawful. Thus, Hamlet refers to the “sheets” of marriage as “incestuous”. However, Hamlet continual preoccupation with the “speed” in which Gertrude has not undergone a significant period of mourning. Conventionally, a period of mourning of one year would have been expected, whereas Gertrude remarried in two months. Hamlet likens Gertrude’s actions to that of “Niobe” and by drawing such comparisons emphasizes his beliefs in hypocrisy of her actions, thus betraying her deceased husband by marrying her former husband’s brother, she also betrays the late king

People sometimes find themselves in situations in which aspects of who they are might cause problems for them. “Passing” refers to the practice of certain mixed-race men and women passing as white because their skin is light, thus allowing them to access otherwise forbidden situations or resources. While this passing has given African Americans an escape from the societal limitations placed on them, it also often involves a heavy price. Historically, this price often involved brutal beating and even death by lynching. Frequently during the times of slavery, these types of punishments were made public, so as to make an example out of the passer in front of other slaves to discourage these who might have similar ideas. Because women, in particular,

Gertrude is perhaps the most mysterious character in the play, her motives in marrying Claudius and maintaining the Danish throne never exactly revealed; but it is this action, intertwined with her love for her son, Hamlet, that imply a pragmatic and compassionate self behind her exterior of grace and charm. Being one of two female characters in the entire play, Gertrude is constantly surrounded by men, particularly men of status. When around men who have power,

In Gertrude’s decision she proves that she is willing to go against society to obtain her perfect life.

The idea of the ideals of whiteness reigns on these couple pages and shows the superiority that these citizens felt during this time, and there is no black standard of beauty. While Claudia describing Maureen as “High-yellow”, which translates into cultural background of one eighth’s black, and seven eighth’s, one may say that this is considered too dark-skinned to pass as white, and her eyes are “sloe” which means dark in colour or almond in shape, although not holding qualities of a perfect Anglo child with fair skin and round blue eyes she is still deeming to be more beautiful then a full African American, thus why she considers her to be a “dream child”. (Morrison, 62) Being of mixed race allows Maureen to be represented by both the white