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Passing By Nella Larsen Essay Research Paper

Passing By Nella Larsen Essay, Research Paper


Nella Larsen’s novel, Passing, provides an example of


some of the best writing the Harlem Renaissance has to


offer. Nella Larsen was one of the most promising young


writer’s of her time. Though she only published two novels


it is clear that she was one of the most important writers


of the Harlem Renaissance movement. Her career as writer


probably would have lasted longer, but she was accused of


plagiarizing her short story, “Sanctuary.” She was


eventually cleared of any wrong doing, but the accusation


deeply tarnished her reputation as writer. It is truly a


shame that the first African-American woman to win the


Guggenheim Fellowship was forced out of writing by scandal.


Before being haunted by scandal, Nella Larsen played


an intricate role in the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem


Renaissance was a movement that started toward the end of


World War I and lasted through the mid 1930’s. It was the


first notable movement of African-American writers and


artists in the United States. It was given the name


“Harlem Renaissance” because the movement was centered in


the Harlem district in New York City. More


African-American writers and poets were published during


this period in the United States than ever before. Not


only were African-American writers being published more,


but they were also getting a great deal of recognition for


their work. The body of work characteristic of this time


period showed a heightened sense of racial consciousness.


African-American writers during this time were not only


seeking to counteract racial prejudice, but were also


perpetuating the cultural heritage of Africa. Some of the


major writers born from this period include Langston


Hughes, Claude McKay, Jean Toomer, Countee Cullen, Neale


Hurston and of course, Nella Larsen.


The writing of the Harlem Renaissance explored a


variety of themes and genres. The writer’s experimented


with a wide variety of styles as well. Langston Hughes for


instance explored the lives of working-class


African-Americans. Jean Toomer explored what life was like


for very poor African-Americans. Countee Cullen on the


other hand explored the problem of racism and the


definition of Africa for African-Americans. Nella Larsen


explored the restrictions faced by African-Americans


according to their skin color.


Nella Larsen’s novel, Passing was her second as well


as last novel and was published in 1929. To get a better


idea of what this novel is about, one must understand what


exactly “passing” is. Passing is when African-American men


or women with light skin pass themselves off as white in


order to enjoy the privileges that were afforded to white


people during this period in American his

tory. The Plessy


vs. Ferguson ruling of “separate, but equal” was still in


effect at this time in history. Therefore, one could


understand why it could be advantageous for


African-Americans who had light enough skin to pass


themselves off as white.


Passing is narrated by the character, Irene Redfield,


who is a middle-class, light-skinned African-American woman


who deplores “passing.” She is married to a doctor, with


whom she has two sons, who is too dark to “pass.” Irene is


somewhat self-consciously proud of her African heritage.


Irene’s life is going along as usual when she runs into a


childhood friend. Her old friend’s name is Clare Kendry.


Clare Kendry is a light-skinned African-American woman who


“passes” for white. In fact she is even married to a white


doctor. Ironically, Irene runs into her at a rooftop


restaurant where she herself is “passing” to evade the heat


wave.


The characters in Passing, are faced with the


confusion of which race to identify with. They are trapped


in limbo between two worlds: white and black. These


feelings of being denied privileges if they identify with


African-American society and being allowed privileges if


they “pass” as white causes them to feel lonely and feel as


though they are not truly part of either race. If they


“pass” they will be allowed to exercise all the privileges


that come along with being white during this period of


history in America. If they decide to identify themselves


as African-American they will be denied many of the most


basic privileges given to American citizens.


This book explores the trap that light-skinned


African-Americans are put in by the Plessy vs. Ferguson


ruling of “separate, but equal.” This ruling is in


reality, separate, but not anywhere near equal. Passing


proves this to be true. African-Americans would not even


entertain the idea of “passing” if they were not being


denied certain rights and privileges.


This book is a valuable account of the tragic


consequences of being denied racial identity due to a court


decision and a society which perpetuates this unfounded


prejudice. Is it better to deny one’s racial heritage or


accept it and identify with it. This book shows how both


choices are loaded with a number of adverse consequences.


After reading Passing, the reader will see that this is by


no means a black and white issue, but rather a complex


series of stages of gray. Whether you are familiar with


Harlem Renaissance and this period in history or this is


your first journey into exploring what society was like in


the 11920’s you stand to learn a lot from Nella Larsen’s


classic, Passing.


Bibliography


Larsen, Nella. Quicksand and Passing. Rutgers State University, 1986

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