Analysis Of Nella Larsen s Passing - 880 Words

Nella Larsen’s 1929 novel, Passing, is the story of two African American women, Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry, living in New York in the 1920’s. However, the two women are African American by ancestry rather than outward appearance because both possess light enough skin to be able to pass for white. African Americans passing as white was a common occurrence in post-Civil War America. Passing concerns itself with themes of identity, race, belonging, and oppression, yet Larsen muddles the conventional ideas of identity. Skin color is no longer an accurate measure of race, thus the concept of American space acting as a defining aspect of race and identity is central to this novel. Although this novel is fictitious, a close reading of Passing illuminates the cultural normatives of 1920’s America and disproves common misnomers about life for African Americans during this time. Furthermore, when focusing specifically on Larsen’s treatment of American space in the novel it becomes clear that there was no true place refuge for African Americans living in the United States during this time, not even one’s own home. It is nearly impossible to overstate the plight of American Americans throughout the course of United States’ history, and Passing helps to display the slow, grudging path that led towards freedom for African Americans. Initially introduced to the country as slaves, African Americans were stripped of all basic human rights. Believed to be less than human, AfricanShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Nella Larsen s Passing1731 Words   |  7 PagesNella Larsen’s novella Passing, set in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s, tells the story of the reunion of two childhood friends, Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield, and the resulting exploration of race and finding of one’s identity. The novel is titled for the central theme of racial â€Å"passing,† enacted by Clare Kendry, who passes as white with her husband, John Bellew, serving as the catalyst to the tragic events that propel the plot. Passing is defined as â€Å"the ability of a person to be regardedRead MoreAnalys is Of Nella Larsen s Passing2113 Words   |  9 PagesEarly reviewers of Nella Larsen’s Passing focused on Clare as the protagonist. Readers reacted to her passing as white and her innate desire to return to her roots and the problems that came with it. Contemporary critics such as Mary Mabel Yeoman focus on Irene as the protagonist and her racial passing. They see her as a character that is living and behaving in an anti-black way. The change in opinion is because our society’s view of race has evolved over time, but this alone does not explain theRead MoreAnalysis Of Nella Larsen s Passing, Issues Of Race, Identity, And Privilege1626 Words   |  7 PagesIn Nella Larsen’s Passing, issues of race, identity, and privilege are explored. Irene Redfield, the African American wife of a doctor, is herself â€Å"passing† in the Drayton Hotel’s rooftop garden when she comes across Clare Kendry, a childhood friend. Clare is passing as white in her daily life with her husband believing that she is a white woman. Although Irene does not approve of Clare’s passing, and tension exists among the characters, Irene grows to feel sympathetic for Clare and becomes closerRead MoreFeminist Literary Analysis Of By Nella Larsen2280 Words   |  10 PagesFarkhanda Wajibul English 102 Prof. S. Dillion Feminist Literary Analysis Paper 2 20 March 2015 â€Å"A Lesson in Oppression† From the beginning of time and around the world, women have been subjected to patriarchal oppression in various forms. From economic hardships such as wage gaps or an inability to own property, to social mores such as submission in marriage and sexual objectification, women are systematically treated as second- class citizens without a voice. African American women have facedRead MoreLiterary And Scholarly Works : Giovanni s Room By James Baldwin2163 Words   |  9 Pagesbecause they want to understand how these communities are formed, and how the residents of these neighborhoods perceive their identity. This discussion included in this paper will be based on the analysis of literary and scholarly works. For instance, it is possible to refer to such authors as Nella Larsen and Yomme Chang who describe isolated ethnic communities. Furthermore, one can examine the novel Giovanni’s Room written by James Baldwin who examines the reasons why the representatives of the