Thursday, November 03, 2005
"The Passing" by Nella Larsen
Book Two of “The Passing” from “The Complete Fiction of Nella Larsen” is significantly less gripping and enveloping than Book One, with its suspenseful tea party conversation and the introduction of Irene and Clare’s troubles. Reading “The Passing”, I get a feeling of anticipation for something eventful or momentous to occur with our main characters. Clare’s increasing comfort within the home and lives of Irene and her family (and thus the growth of her double lives) feels like it must be leading to something significant. However, I have an unfortunate feeling that such a large and noteworthy occurrence will not occur, and that I will eventually be disappointed by the ending, and therefore “The Passing” in general as well.
I don’t quite know what to make of either of the two lead characters yet. Irene, for starters, has no backbone when dealing with Clare’s disarming personality in person, which I found to be both frustrating and relatable. All of her buildup and rehearsal and defiance in relation to a confrontation with Clare, and the subsequent submissiveness and phoniness when she comes in actual contact with Clare, are understandable reactions. However, they do not make her any more endearing or supportable as a main character. I feel like I don’t know of any defining characteristics or events that make her a character that I would want to root for or look forward to a positive end for. Her mess of a marriage is nothing to speak of either. I wonder, if Irene chose to refuse her opportunity to not try and “pass” as white, then why did she choose to live in a marriage that is no more happy – or honest – than Clare’s?
Speaking of Clare, her personality through Irene’s eyes – easy to hate from afar, but hard to dislike in person – is a familiar type of character. I believe that her willingness to be pitied amongst Irene and her friends & neighbors in Harlem shows just how desperate Clare is to unearth her black roots. Also, her feelings toward her daughter reminded me of Delia’s relationship with her children in “The Old Maid” by Edith Wharton – as if children are a next step in the process of living a certain kind of life, something that is intended to help remove the problems that these two women face. I also wonder if I should take seriously Irene’s premonitions of condescension in her interactions with Clare (i.e., every time a statement by Clare is described by Irene with words like “scoffingly” or “mockery”). As we have covered in class, Irene is not a reliable narrator, and her mixed feelings toward Clare may have influenced these observations.
And lastly, I was confused by the interaction between Irene and Hugh at the N.W.L. dance. It seemed as if Irene had implied to Hugh that Clare was “passing” as white,
but I can’t be sure. Hopefully this can be cleared up in class.
I don’t quite know what to make of either of the two lead characters yet. Irene, for starters, has no backbone when dealing with Clare’s disarming personality in person, which I found to be both frustrating and relatable. All of her buildup and rehearsal and defiance in relation to a confrontation with Clare, and the subsequent submissiveness and phoniness when she comes in actual contact with Clare, are understandable reactions. However, they do not make her any more endearing or supportable as a main character. I feel like I don’t know of any defining characteristics or events that make her a character that I would want to root for or look forward to a positive end for. Her mess of a marriage is nothing to speak of either. I wonder, if Irene chose to refuse her opportunity to not try and “pass” as white, then why did she choose to live in a marriage that is no more happy – or honest – than Clare’s?
Speaking of Clare, her personality through Irene’s eyes – easy to hate from afar, but hard to dislike in person – is a familiar type of character. I believe that her willingness to be pitied amongst Irene and her friends & neighbors in Harlem shows just how desperate Clare is to unearth her black roots. Also, her feelings toward her daughter reminded me of Delia’s relationship with her children in “The Old Maid” by Edith Wharton – as if children are a next step in the process of living a certain kind of life, something that is intended to help remove the problems that these two women face. I also wonder if I should take seriously Irene’s premonitions of condescension in her interactions with Clare (i.e., every time a statement by Clare is described by Irene with words like “scoffingly” or “mockery”). As we have covered in class, Irene is not a reliable narrator, and her mixed feelings toward Clare may have influenced these observations.
And lastly, I was confused by the interaction between Irene and Hugh at the N.W.L. dance. It seemed as if Irene had implied to Hugh that Clare was “passing” as white,
but I can’t be sure. Hopefully this can be cleared up in class.
# posted by Kevin5671 @ 3:29 PM 
