(Character) and relationship to society - Essay Example

Character and Relationship to Society College First of all, it is necessary to emphasize that Nella Larsen’s writing career is closely connected with women and the problems they face. There are at least three important themes to highlight when one is discussing Larsen’s works. They are the following: Black women’s sexuality Racial discrimination The black middle class and its problems (Hutchinson, 2006, p. 19). It is true that Passing and Quicksand are the most famous novels written by Nella Larsen.

Although these two writings portray different characters, the theme is the same – it is focused on so-called passing. What is it? It is the protagonist’s attempt to pretend to be treated as a white woman, although she belongs to another nation. It should be mentioned that both Helga (Quicksand) and Clare (Passing) are Mulattos, who are unhappy because the community they live in do not like all “not-whites.” Both the stories under consideration introduce two women who are eager to navigate their way through ideological, economic and social structures of their communities.

It is important to add that Passing and Quicksand not only document the long and continuing dynamic of race in the United States of America; they also describe all the challenges of being “not-white.” The women described by the author have to struggle for their happiness. Unfortunately, they do not manage to succeed in the fight for their rights. For example, Clare mysteriously dies after her secrete of being black becomes known to her husband. Helga turns into a poor woman who brings up her children and is not satisfied with her miserable life.

We cannot ignore the fact that only the society is to blame in this situation. Both Helga and Clare found no opportunity to realize themselves and their dreams in their community. Racial discrimination and improper attitude towards black people left no place to recognition and sympathy needed by Mulatto women (p. 11). The policy of negligence led to death in Clare’s case and dreary life in Helga’s. In Passing the reader learns information about Clare Kendry who tries to hide her origin from everybody, even her husband.

It turns out that marriage and communicating with intelligent white people cannot change Clare’s nature. She is eager to spent time with Negroes. They are closer to her than husband and all other white people. It seems to me that Clare’s behaviour is controversial. She tries to behave like white people belonging to the same class as her husband and do not want to spoil relations with the people of her race. Clare has everything that is necessary for “passing.” For example, this woman knows how to persuade people and make them do the things she wants.

It is easily seen from the first pages of the novel when Irene is thinking over her conversation with Clare: “Irene hung up the receiver with an emphatic bang, her thoughts immediately filled with self-reproach. She’d done it again. Allowed Clare Kendry to persuade her into promising to do something for which she had neither time nor any special desire. What was it about Clare’s voice that was so appealing, so very seductive?” (Larsen, 2004, p. 22) In addition to this, Clare knew how to talk in the public.

She knew that it was not polite to touch such themes as race and something connected with it. According to Irene’s point of view, Clare’s speech “was the most brilliant exhibition of conversational weightlifting that she had ever seen” (p. 85). This indicates Clare’s education and peculiarities of her character due gender. It is necessary to state that although Clare and Helga have the same purpose – to pass, their lives and fate are different. The first tried to become happy through telling lies and pretending to be black; she even travelled to another city to change her fate.

The second tried to forget about all racial prejudices with the help of marriage and maternity. Unfortunately, all these attempts turned to be ineffective because the community refuse to treat black people the same way as white. References Hutchinson, G. (2006). In search of Nella Larsen: a biography of the color line. Harlem, NY: Intellectual Life. Larsen, N. (2004). Passing. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications.