Summary

During today's class, we continued to talk about Nella Larsen's "Passing". We began by exploring the possibilities of Clare's death at the end of the novel. We then examined evidence from the text to support each possibility. While each of the following possibilities exist, we determined that the possibility that Irene pushes her seems the most likely so we elaborated on that particular possibility. 

1. Irene Pushes Her

Though the story is narrated from a limited omniscient perspective, it is told from "what Irene remembered" (7). We see Irene's perspective as being somewhat unreliable in the way that she projects her insecurities onto Clare. There is also the fact that Irene seems appalled at Clare for transgressing not only the race barrier, but class barriers as well.  Irene was also the last person touching Clare, holding her arm right before Clare fell to the street.  Irene even refers to the event as a "sudden moment of action," (80).  Her nervous mannerisms after Clare's fall also add to the evidence against her.

2. John Pushes Her  

3. John and Irene Both Push Her 

4. Clare Commits Suicide

5. It's an Accident

We continued class by discussing the concept of race and what it really is. We noted a continual question throughout the text: How do we place people in society if the traits of race really aren't all that useful after all. Our discussion concluded as we discussed the idea that although the novel begins seeming to be a novel about Clare, it seems to turn into a novel about Irene and the problems that arise are largely due to Irene's need for security throughout "Passing". 

Word Count:

275

Passages

"If I knew that I'd know what race was." (38)

This line, spoken by Brian to Irene, pertains to our discussion of just what race really is, and whether or not the term means anything at all. They are discussing just how and why African Americans attempt to "pass," and the risks they run in doing so.

"Yes." And having said it, Clare Kendry smiled quickly, a smile that came and went in a flash, leaving untouched the gravity of her face." (75)

Clare says this in response to Irene's question of what she would do if her secret were discovered. This moment of unease in Clare's demeaner is the first of its kind, and a far cry from the self-assured, controlled character we have seen for the majority of the text. Though she follows it with an expression of being "wrapped in some pleasant impenetrable reflection" (75), there is something unnerving about the image. Also, the fact that it echoes a moment just before she falls to her death, one must wonder if that faraway look could be an indication that Clare had intended to kill herself in the event her husband found her out.

"What if Clare was not dead? She felt nauseated, as much at the idea of the glorious body mutilated as from fear" (81). 

The reader gets an insight on Irene's thoughts directly after Clare has fallen out of the window. This most obviously seems to reflect a sort of hope that Clare was indeed dead, further suggesting to the reader that she had been the one who had pushed her. The idea of nausea and fear add to this idea.  

Key Terms