Passing Essay

English literature has always been known to have a controversial side to everything. Many novels and other pieces of literature keep the reader in bewilderment about what is really happening and what the narrator is just imagining. Nella Larsens Passing is the story about two middle-class African-Americans who can both pass as white women because of their light complexion. As the novel progresses, Irenes attraction to Clare starts to affect both their lives and Irene begins imagining things and starts to lose her mind. In the novel Passing by Nella Larsen, she shows the reader that what happens on the surface is not the reality. She does this through Clares passing, Irenes relationship with Clare and how Clare hides her emotions from the rest of society.

Firstly, Clares passing shows the reader the difference between surface and reality. Clare Kendry is a light-skinned middle aged woman with African-American origins, passing as a white woman. On the surface, she is just an ordinary white middle-classed woman, with a husband and a family. Larsen describes Clare in such a way that evokes a representation of an ordinary white woman: There had been, even in those days, nothing sacrificial in Clare Kendrys idea of life, no allegiance beyond her own immediate desire. She was selfish, and cold, and hard (Larsen 2). However, in reality Clare has African-American origins. She grew up like all other black women of her time, living through all the stereotype of all other blacks. Clare writes in a letter: Hard labour was good for me. I had Negro blood and they belonged to the generation that had written and read long articles headed Will the Blacks Work?(17) Larsen shows the reader how the blacks are treated during the Harlem Renaissance. Therefore, the reader can see the difference between the reality and the surface in Nella Larsens Passing.

Secondly, along with Clares passing, Irenes relationship with Clare shows the distinction between the surface and reality. As the novel progresses, the reader can start to see the distinction between what Irene is imagining and what is actually happening. During the novel, Irene is contemplating whether or not Clare is having an affaire with Brian. She says to herself Clare Kendry! So that was it! Impossible. It couldn't be (Larsen 70). This citation shows the reader that Irene is unable to differentiate between the surface and the reality. She is quickly drawn to false assumptions which is why near the end of the novel, she begins to slowly lose her mind. Furthermore, throughout the novel, Irene is constantly saying how she does not want to see Clare anymore and keeps her away from the black population of Harlem. Irene says: I dont care where you go, or what you do. [...] To put it frankly, I shouldnt like to be mixed up in any row of the kind. (Larsen 55). This passage shows Irene explaining to Clare why she does not want her coming to the dance. On the surface, it seems that Irene does not like Clare and that she does not want her to come to social events of the black society. However, in reality, Irene feels an attraction to Clare, and to Clares freedom. She cannot live without her which is why she can never refuse Clares demands. This is how Lasen shows the reader the difference between the surface and reality of the story.

Finally, Clare gives the image of having a perfect life, however in reality, her marriage is deteriorating and she shelters her kids from reality.