Internal Desires, Questions of Identities and External Outcomes in Nella Larsens Passing

Abstract

In Passing, Nella Larsen explores the general themes of passing, that is, one race attempting to be taken as another, through the actions of her two protagonists, Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry. While Clare is able to pass as a white woman, she still secretly longs for acceptance into black society. Her counterpoint, Irene, while having been accepted into black society, disparages the very notion of passing. That being said, Irene's actions appear to negate this belief and betray her internal desires to also be accepted into white society. Furthermore, Clare is unable to fully pass due to her inclination towards the society that she had outwardly rejected. Through these two female characters, Larsen poignantly illustrates that pervasive internal desires are the predominant determiners of external outcomes, regardless of established outward behaviors, opinions, or beliefs.