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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
7 pages in length. Expressing one's feelings on family relationships, love, predestination and following dreams is not such an unusual occurrence; that is, of course, unless one is doing so in the early part of the twentieth century. Back during the time Nella Larsen wrote her groundbreaking story "Passing," these issues were dealt with in the privacy of one's own thoughts. Indeed, it was highly irregular to delve into such concentrated and
personal subjects as these, especially in front of
strangers. However, Larsen recognized the need to address the sometimes more difficult aspects of life, which she achieved so eloquently in "Passing." Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
7 pages (~225 words per page)
File: LM1_TLClarsn.doc
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
in the early part of the twentieth century. Back during the time Nella Larsen wrote her groundbreaking story Passing, these issues were dealt with in the privacy of ones
own thoughts. Indeed, it was highly irregular to delve into such concentrated and personal subjects as these, especially in front of strangers. However, Larsen recognized the need to
address the sometimes more difficult aspects of life, which she achieved so eloquently in Passing. "Indeed, Passing, a relatively late example of this topos of American writing, represents both
an original reconfiguration of and commentary on more conventional plots of racial passing, which typically center on a psychologically and culturally divided tragic mulatto figure..." (Blackmer 50).
At the crux of her tale, the author confronts fears of abandonment, missing identity and racial intolerance - all within the confines of marriage. Both
Clare and Irene are of a darker persuasion; however, Clare decides to take advantage of her light-skinned appearance and cross the line over to a Caucasian lifestyle, while Irene chooses
to remain true to her heritage. Both women marry, and both women experience racial intolerance as a result. The relationship that exists between Clare and her husband is
one built upon the illusion that she is white. When her skin tone begins to change - slowly at first then becoming more and more noticeable - her husband
marks his acknowledgment with comments that exude with racial undertones. Affectionately calling her "Nig" is his way of demonstrating his lack of tolerance for the darker race. What
is particularly important and interesting at the same time about this violent bigots racist comments to Clare is that he has absolutely no idea of her black heritage. "When
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