Nella Larsen Essay

Exploring Race and Identity in Nella Larsen's 'Passing' In Nella Larsen's novel, Passing, the characters confront societal constructs surrounding race and identity. Larsen uses themes of friendship, social constraints, and betrayal to question traditional ideas about race and identity. The narrative delves into the complexities of racial grouping and its impact on shaping individual identities. Through the characters' experiences, Larsen questions the influence of societal expectations on one's sense

their personalities and their physical appearance, essentially abandoning their identities. This is greatly portrayed in Nella Larsen’s Passing, which follows two childhood friends, Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry, who later reunite as adults. As the story progresses, Larsen demonstrates the action of passing through Clare, who is then affected by it later on. Through Passing, Larsen demonstrates how the effects of racial passing can alter one's identity, appearance, and desires. The complex effects

African American community. This influential movement was pivotal in American history. In the novel Passing, which takes place in the same time period as the Harlem Renaissance, Nella Larsen examines racial passing, which is the ability to be perceived or “pass” as a different race than you really are. Through this theme, Nella is able to explore the ideas of conflicting identity, and expectations of society. Claire's connection with race is very complicated, as she wants to enjoy the privilege of being

Passing Nella Larsen seems to suggest that identity is a hazy fiction one tells that outward appearances and surface events only partly confirm. ' (Thaggert, 2005) Clare implies that she thinks her lifestyle is superior to those women that always remain black. Her obsession with passing has formed her identity and became so normal to her, 'Clare had a trick of sliding down ivory lids over astonishing black eyes and then lifting them suddenly and turning on a caressing smile' (Larsen, p.83).

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

Obsession over Sexuality Passing by Nella Larsen is a very peculiar novel of race, identity, family, friendship, love, and sexuality. Her novel portrays the characteristics and symbols of the racial society of 1920s. Larsen used Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry as examples of light-skinned African American of this Harlem Renaissance. Both women appear similar, but their views on race, family and friendship were significantly different. Clare differs from Irene by the fact that she uses her appearance

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. Clare is of mixed heritage and passes, which is a member of one racial group portraying

someone who is of African American descent and has a lighter skin complexion, uses it to their advantage, and passes as white. Nella Larsen’s novella Passing takes us through the relationship

also work independently to expose aspects of a person’s life. In Passing, Nella Larsen heavily utilizes facial features as objects to tell the story of race and identity. In particular,

In the passage from her novel Passing, Nella Larsen uses visual imagery and tone to contrast Clare, Gertrude, and Irene, and the differing social perspectives that each represents. At the beginning of the passage, Larsen uses elaborate adjectives, such as “rich,” “tall,” and “slim,” to illustrate Clare and her wealthy image. Additionally, Clare’s possession of “tea-things,” “rich amber fluid,” “glass pitcher,” and “slim glasses,” stresses Clare’s prosperous materialism, setting the basis that Clare’s