The Harlem Renaissance was a turning point for many African Americans. A large volume of literature was written specifically, for this group, during this era. For the first time, African Americans were being told that it was ok to be proud of who they were. This new idea was big in many types of literature. Many writers began exploring the darker side of this movement with literature that concentrated on the negative parts of race issues in America. Nella Larsen's novel Passing concentrates on this theme with the story of Clare, a "tragic mulatto" who "passes" as a white person. Not only is Passing representative of the problems of the "tragic mulatto", but it is also a novel that explores the insight of human relationships. Clare Kendry's life is a perfect example of the plight of the "tragic mulatto". This character "passes" as a white person, and then reveals bursts of emotions resulting from his or her black identity.
In Passing, Clare seems to have one overriding urge to return to the African American world she left. However, once she does return back to the African American community, her story leads to a tragic ending. Clare's desire to return to her African American heritage is obvious. Clare tells her childhood friend Irene Redfield that "she can't know how in this pale life of [Clare's] all the time seeing the bright pictures of that other that [Clare] once thought [Clare] was glad to be free of It's like an ache, a pain that never ceases" (145). Clare realizes how much she wants to see African Americans, to be with them again, to talk with them, to hear them laugh.
Irene feels that there is nothing sacrificial in Clare's idea of life, nothing beyond her own immediate desire. It is obvious that Clare's desire to return to her African American race is honest, though if the reasons seem one-sided. Irene considers Clare to be "selfish, cold and hard" (144). Irene feels that Clare does not have "even in the slightest artistic or sociological interest in the race that some members of other races displayed.
The era in the 1920's known as the Harlem Renaissance was a great change for African Americans. During the previous decade's Great Migration millions of black Americans moved to the north, settling mostly in Harlem. The Renaissance coincided with the time Zora Neale Hurston, an African American writ...
In the novel Passing by Nella Larson, the author uses this quote to show the struggles of how Irene Redfield is caught between her husband cheating on her with an old childhood friend, Clare Kendry, who has lied to the world about not being a Negro, her race and her herself. ...
The Harlem Renaissance was a movement originating in Harlem New York in the 1920s. Many African- American poets such as Langston Hughes found their place in this movement. Sidney Bremer's Home in Harlem, New York: Lessons from the Harlem Renaissance Writers, Jon Michael Spencer's The Black Church an...
Forensics is defined as the application of science to interpret clues for crime investigation. The earliest forensic scientists were physicians who were called upon to give an opinion as to the cause of death in individuals. Now most of the forensic scientists are investigators that pick up clues at the crime scene. Because criminals often are not the brightest people on the planet they often do not plan out a burglary or theft and carelessly leave behind distinct clues that allow an investigator to track them relatively easily. There are many areas of forensics which include: general crime sc...
Forensics is defined as the aplication of science to interpret clues for crime investigation. The earliest forensic scientists were physicianswho were called upon to give an opinion as to the cause of death in individuals. Now most of the forensic scientists are investigators that pick up clues at the crim scene. Because criminals often are not the brightest people on the planet they often do not plan out a burglary or theft and carelessly leave behind distict clues that allow an invetigator to track them relatively easily. There are many areas of forensics which include: general crime scene ...
