Passing by Nella Larsen poses the consequential effects of matrimony for reasons other than love. Clare, Irene, John, and Brian are married for reasons other than love. Clare marries John for economic security, Irene marries Brian for economic security and a sense of belonging, Brian marries Irene for love, and Jack marries Clare for an improved personal image. In the end, these characters lasted after posing to be in this marriage for reasons other than love. Each character succumbed to the consequential effects of walking the streets and camouflaging their identity (Fugees, “The Mask”). In other words, Larsen characterizes the tragedy of unidentified identity or wearing “the mask” (Fugees, “The Mask”).
It is not uncommon for people to marry for reasons other than love. David Brooks states, “People now want marriage to satisfy their financial, emotional and spiritual needs” (“Three Views of Marriage”). Larsen confirms this belief through Jack and Brian. Jack refers to Clare as “Neg” (Larsen 81) and describes her as his beautiful white lily (Larsen 67). Jack views Clare as his trophy, something that is beautiful to adore and obtain. Clare is known in the film and the novel to be beautiful and highly sociable at these illustrious events she attends. Jack, an entrepreneur, has a beautiful asset by his side to grant him the dream life. Brian marries Irene for emotional needs. Irene encourages him to continue practicing medicine despite his profound dislike for the profession (Larsen 99-102). Brian continues to provide for Irene and his family with this lucrative profession because he loves them.
Brian loves Clare as he continues to be a doctor despite passionately disliking the profession for the financial well-being of his family (Larsen 99-102). Although Clare might disagree with his idea of moving to South America or educating their children about the racism they will face (Larsen 101), he stays. Even though Brian disregards Clare’s concerns, he is the only character that isn’t wearing an opaque mask in marriage. He did not marry Irene because of her ability to pass as a white woman. Brian did not marry so that his New Negro children would be able to pass.
Dr. Umar Johnson states, “Marriage ain’t about love. It’s not colorblind and it is totally economic. Marriage is an economic unification and a contract” (“Dr. Umar is Totally Against Interracial Marriage”, Johnson 1:07-1:18). Larsen confirms Johnson’s statement through Clare and Irene. Irene marries Brian for the economic unification of Brian’s finances and not for love. Irene despises Brian. Irene despises Brian for the way he consumes food. Brian bites into a piece of toast and it is an “audible crunching sound that Irene disliked so intensely” (Larsen 97). Irene battles with her thoughts as Brian speaks out against his disdain for being a doctor. Irene thinks that Brian is ungrateful for the success of the profession he’s landed himself into and it brings her great anger that they are not in agreement(Larsen 100). Despite all of the anger and deep resettlement Brian’s actions give Irene, she stays in the marriage because she is aware that she won’t have access to a maid or the lifestyle she has without Brian’s economic success.
Clare marries John for economic unification, and security, and as a way to make her passing credible. Jack is an upcoming successful entrepreneur that can afford to send their daughter to an expensive private school (Larsen 90), pay for Irene’s expenses (Larsen 90), and travel domestically, internationally, and frequently (Larsen 92). Clare also marries to solidify her status as a white woman; it is unlikely for questions to arrive for Clare about her true identity and this is security.
Although Johnson, Larsen, and Brooks are transparent that marriage is not an act of love, it is palpable when marriage is not done for love. The results are devastating. It is similar to a thief caught red-handed. As a result of everyone wearing a mask in their marriage, Clare dies, Irene and Brian are scarred traumatically, and Jack loses his precious trophy and his ideals. Clare dies wearing the mask of a white woman. Brian and Irene suffer some form of post-traumatic stress disorder from witnessing Clare’s death while wearing the mask of caring about one another. Jack loses Clare wearing the mask of great pride and joy of Clare being a pure white lily (Larsen 67), only to be deceived and realize that Clare is filthy to him.
Nothing positive came from not marrying out of love. All characters wore a mask and their ideals did not last.