94 Nella Larsen’s Passing
In This Chapter
Author Background
Nella Larsen (April 13, 1891 – March 30, 1964) was an American writer associated with the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural and artistic movement that flourished in the 1920s. Larsen is best known for her two novels, Quicksand (1928) and Passing (1929), both of which explore complex themes of race, identity, and belonging in early 20th-century America.
Early Life and Education
Nella Larsen was born Nellie Walker in Chicago, Illinois, to a Danish mother and a father of mixed Danish and African American descent. Her mixed-race heritage would later influence her writing and the themes she explored in her novels.
Larsen attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the prominent historically black colleges in the United States. After graduating, she worked as a nurse and a librarian in New York City before pursuing a career in writing.
Writing Career
In the 1920s, Larsen became part of the Harlem Renaissance, a literary and cultural movement centered in Harlem, New York City. The movement sought to celebrate and promote African American art, literature, and culture.
Larsen’s first novel, Quicksand, tells the story of Helga Crane, a young woman of mixed race struggling to find her identity and place in the world. The novel explores themes of racial identity, cultural dislocation, and the search for self-fulfillment.
Passing is Larsen’s most famous work. It revolves around the lives of two childhood friends, Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield, who are both light-skinned African American women. Clare “passes” as white to access certain privileges denied to black people at the time. The novella examines the complexities of racial identity and the psychological toll of living a lie.
Later Life
After the publication of Passing, Larsen faced personal and professional challenges, leading her to withdraw from the literary world. Her later life was marked by financial difficulties and relative obscurity.
In the late 20th century, Nella Larsen’s works were rediscovered and gained renewed attention. Scholars and critics recognized the significance of her contributions to African American literature and the exploration of racial and gender issues in her writing.
Background on Passing
Passing focuses on the phenomenon of “passing,” where light-skinned African Americans chose to present themselves as white to access social and economic opportunities denied to black people during a time of intense racial segregation and discrimination.
Plot Summary
Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry, childhood friends, unexpectedly reunite in Chicago after many years apart. Clare reveals that she has been “passing” as white and is married to a white man who is unaware of her racial background.
Irene, on the other hand, is married to Brian Redfield, an African American doctor, and lives openly within her racial community. However, she is both intrigued and uncomfortable with Clare’s lifestyle.
As the two women rekindle their friendship, Irene becomes increasingly suspicious of Clare’s motives and the risks associated with her passing. The novella delves into the emotional and psychological complexities that arise as the women navigate their different choices and identities.
Themes
Racial Identity and Double Consciousness: Passing explores the concept of double consciousness, as both Irene and Clare grapple with their dual identities as African Americans who can “pass” as white. The novella examines the psychological toll this dual life takes on the characters.
Deception and Authenticity: The story delves into themes of deception and authenticity as the characters navigate the fine line between truth and fiction, highlighting the personal costs of living a lie.
Friendship and Betrayal: The complicated friendship between Irene and Clare reveals the tensions and betrayals that arise as a result of passing and the social pressures of the time.
Racial Prejudice and Segregation: The novella sheds light on the racial prejudice and segregation faced by African Americans during the early 20th century, illustrating the stark contrast between the lives of those who pass and those who openly embrace their racial identity.
Legacy
Passing remains a significant work in African American literature and the Harlem Renaissance. The novella’s exploration of racial identity, passing, and the complexities of friendship continues to resonate with readers, making it a timeless and thought-provoking piece of literature. Passing has also sparked ongoing discussions about race, identity, and the social dynamics of the early 20th century, reaffirming its lasting relevance in contemporary conversations about race and belonging.
You can borrow and read the full text of Nella Larsen’s Passing by visiting Internet Archive and signing up for a free account: https://archive.org/details/passing00lars_0
The following discussion questions should provide a starting point for meaningful conversations about the complexities and thought-provoking themes in Nella Larsen’s Passing. These questions can also be used as writing prompts for individual student reflection.
- How does the novella explore the concept of passing, and what does it reveal about the characters’ sense of identity and self? How do Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry navigate the complexities of racial identity and their dual lives?
- Analyze the friendship between Irene and Clare. How does their shared history as childhood friends contrast with the tensions and betrayals that arise as a result of passing? What does the novella suggest about the impact of passing on interpersonal relationships?
- Passing is set during a time of racial segregation and discrimination. How does the novella depict the racial prejudices faced by African Americans, both in the black community and in white society? What are the consequences of passing in such a racially charged environment?
- Why does Clare choose to pass as white, and how does it affect her life and relationships? What are the driving factors behind Irene’s ambivalence towards passing? Discuss the psychological and emotional toll of living a life of deception.
- Passing also explores themes of class and gender in addition to race. How do class distinctions and gender roles intersect with racial passing in the novella? How are Irene and Clare affected by their socioeconomic backgrounds and societal expectations?
- The novella’s ending is ambiguous and open to interpretation. What do you think happens to Clare Kendry, and how does the unresolved ending contribute to the novella’s themes?
- Irene’s emotions towards Clare are complex, ranging from attraction and jealousy to resentment and fear. Discuss how these conflicting emotions drive the plot and add depth to Irene’s character.
- Analyze the symbolic significance of the urban landscape and the locations where the story unfolds, such as the Drayton Hotel, the rooftop scene, and the tea party at Irene’s home.
- W.E.B. Du Bois introduced the concept of “double consciousness,” describing the experience of being both American and African American. How does Passing reflect this concept, and what insights does it offer into the characters’ inner conflicts?
- Consider the historical context of the Harlem Renaissance and the Great Migration. How does this period of African American cultural and social change influence the characters and themes in the novella?
- Discuss how the themes of passing, identity, and racial dynamics in Passing remain relevant in today’s society. How do you see these issues playing out in modern contexts?
Sources
Davies, Thadious M. Nella Larsen: Novelist of the Harlem Renaissance: A Woman’s Life Unveiled. Louisiana State UP, 1994.
Hutchinson, George. In Search of Nella Larsen: A Biography of the Color Line. Belknap, 2006.
Hutchinson, George. “Nella Larsen and the Veil of Race.” American Literary History, vol. 9, no. 2, Summer 1997, pp. 329-349.
Kellner, Bruce, Ed. The Harlem Renaissance: A Historical Dictionary for the Era. Holtzbrinck, 1984.
Larsen, Nella. Passing. Internet Archive, 1997, uploaded by Lotu Tii, 11 Apr. 2012, https://archive.org/details/passing00lars_0
Larsen, Nella. Passing: A Norton Critical Edition. Edited by Carla Kaplan, W.W. Norton, 2007.
Tate, Claudia. “Nella Larsen’s Passing: A Problem of Interpretation.” Black American Literature Forum, vol. 14, no. 4, Winter 1980, pp. 142-146.
The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and cultural revival of African-American music, dance, art, fashion, literature, theater, politics and scholarship centered in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, spanning the 1920s and 1930s.
A novella is defined as a work of narrative fiction that runs between 20,000 and 50,000 words (the average is around 30,000). Once a story exceeds 50,000 words, it is entering novel territory.
A theme is a central topic, subject, or message within a narrative.
The Great Migration, sometimes known as the Great Northward Migration or the Black Migration, was the movement of six million African Americans out of the rural Southern United States to the urban Northeast, Midwest, and West between 1910 and 1970.
