Passing (the act)
The act of appearing to be white and not being white (crossing the color line)
What makes passing possible?
Miscegenation: mixture of genes, not 100% black or white.
What are 2 reasons that make passing desirable?
1. Social / economic oportunity2. Survival (Jim Crow laws in South)
What 3 actions make passing a national obsession?
1. One-drop rule2.
Rhinelander / Jones case3. Eugenics Anxieties
Define the one-drop rule
If ANY of your ancestors are black, everyone after is not PURE, they're black
Define the Eugenics Anxieties
Threat to the white race, good gene pool
What was Nella Larsen's nationality?
White mother and Danish West-Indian father
What was Nella Larsen most known for?
Heightened interest in all things psychological. "3rd-person focalized," one character not multiple characters. Spoken through Irene
"selfish"; "cold"; "hard"; "catlike"; "theatrical"; "manipulative"; "superior" (6)
(1) Passing by Nella Larsen(2) Clare Kendry's description through Irene's eyes.
What does Irene think of Clare's passing?
Intriguing but a race betrayal
"safe"; "maternal"; "selfless"; "allegiant to race, defender of racial causes, and proud of blackness"
(1) Passing by Nella Larsen(2) Irene Redfield's self description. T/F?
What 3 traits does Irene say Clare has that she also has herself?
1.
Race betrayal2. Selfish / Manipulative3. Superior
"Nevertheless, she felt anger, fear. It wasn't that she was ashamed of being a Negro, or even of having it declared. It was the idea of being ejected from any place.
.. that disturbed her."
(1) Passing by Nella Larsen(2) What Irene criticizes Clare for, she is herself(3) Irene passes at rooftop of the Drayton.
Evidence of an affair with Irene's husband and clare?
- Brian is married to Irene, wants clare- Brian says sex with you sucks, Irene.
Why does it seem Irene killed Clare?
- Irene was angry before the cup shattered, like before clare fell- Irene oppresses memory
What does Clare dying do for Irene?
With Clare gone, Irene can get back to her life. Clare became reminder of Irene's contradictions, so she killed her.
