Passing as a Traditionally Organized Book
Passing presents as a traditionally organized book with an engaging narrative. The people in the story illustrate racial quandaries that signify to intricate their relationships, which is where the story's tension comes from. The novel is a masterpiece that examines potential societal issues brought on by culture and identity, which lead to the story's climax. Because of this, the central idea driving the book prompts readers to consider the characters' personal values. The novel thus centers on shifting racial and cultural conflicts, transgressions, and boundary issues as well as the impending pressure to fit in the white-dominated society. Transgression is used as an ideology used by the characters for identification. The novel destabilizes the traditional conception of racial, ethnic and integrity of gender and transforms the idea of identity. The novel refers to the practice of racial passing as a factor of transgression. Transgression in the novel of Passing provides a groundbreaking approach to the exploration of racism. It can be noted that the author crafts a modernist aesthetic value in the time of radical social shifts that depict breakdowns to morals and beliefs. The gender, racial and ethnic differences evident in the novel demonstrate transgressions which have profoundly given the novel a celebrated facet. The novel is indeed an ideal representation of modernity with some of its characters embodied in the racially polarized world.
Clare and Irene: Characters of Transgression
Undoubtedly, Clare is the woman who is "passing" and encounters forces of individual racial identity. Larsen writes referring to Clare that "Stepping always on the edge of danger. Always aware, but not drawing back or turning aside" (Larsen 4). Equally, her characterization embodies in the theme of transgression highlighted by racial identity. Evidently, Clare chooses to purposely distance herself from her culture and acknowledges the ways of the white. On the other hand, Irene Redfield is proud of her identity and thus disapproves Clare's ways of life. The dilemma of culture is manifested in Irene and Clare who are women having same past. Clare has utilized numerous years passing and wants to go back to her cultural roots.
Culture and Identity in Passing
Passing is a celebrated novel of culture and personality. Clare wrestles with personal identification and therefore representing a dramatized character that attests to the significance of culture and identity. Notably, Clare attempts to pass as white, and the author makes an exploration of race being well informed by the mixed racial heritage and the racial passing practices done in the 20th century. Larsen says "It's funny about 'passing.' We disapprove of it and at the same time condone it. It excites our contempt, and yet we rather admire it. We shy away from it with an odd kind of revulsion, but we protect it" (Larsen 37). Clare and Irene who are the main characters of the story allude to the white culture in different ways. Here, Clare who has a mixed race opts to identify herself with the white culture. However, Irene embraces her African American culture and, hence, does not blend into the white culture. Notably, the novel indicates how the two characters struggle with the desires of the white culture. The positive stereotypes surrounding the white identity builds a personality that fragments the African American culture.
The Transgressions of Clare and Irene
Clare is not a model of transgression that the reader can admire. One can notice that she chooses to transgress racial boundaries in attempts to improve her financial and social status. For this reason, she decides on happiness over her safety and opts to pass white. However, Irene desires safety at all cost of happiness, and therefore the reader can admire her transgression. Evidently, at the heart of these key characters, they apparently evidence opposing objectives of transgression. Clare's perception of transgression propels the narrative's movement and remains to be an anionic reflection of racial transformation. Moreover, her self-perception never materializes and therefore admits her inability to translate transgression as an ultimate life exploration.
Work Cited
Larsen Nella. Passing. New York City. Courier Corporation. 2012.
