After reading part one Encounter of Nella Larsen’s Passing, it is impressive how spot on the film adaptation of this novel was. While reading I would be able to recall certain scenes from the movie and create a mental image to go with the text. Though, the novel contained a different and more detailed version of the scene where Irene goes to visit Clare. Upon the arrival of Clare’s husband John, the entire interaction from then on was so infuriating for Irene and Gertrude. John’s horrifying stance on African Americans leaves readers to wonder, what is it that drove Clare to marry such a person. It seems that Clare has not forgotten her background, so John’s views must at least make her uneasy. Was passing so beneficial that it was worth enduring?
3 thoughts on “At What Cost?”
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You bring up a lot of good points that I’d actually have to think on more. Sure passing has its advantages, but why be with someone who is so explicitly racist. It almost seems like an ironic joke which is why Irene probably laughs so hard during the encounter. Clare’s husband is ranting about negroes when he’s in the room literally surrounded by them. Clare must be aware of the irony which makes me wonder if she’s purposely doing it. Is she trying to get back at White people for how they treated her? Is she playing a prank on him? It just doesn’t make sense that a woman who is doing something so dangerous like passing would pick the most racist man she knows. I believe there are more motives to her actions.
YES!!! At times reading the dialogue between Clare and Irene, I could hear Ruth Negga’s voice in character!!!! I really believe Ruth Negga outdid herself in this film. I also believe that Clare probably is uneasy with her husband’s views. Clare more than likely developed a form of masking to deal with derogatory comments about other New Negros. Maybe the family she spent time with after her father died was just as racist as her husband.
I was thinking the same thing. For Clare, it’s definitely a huge risk to pass and she isn’t even satisfied with her life so why do it especially if her husband sucks? It’s crazy how she longs to reconnect with her background when she could have just accepted who she was from the beginning. It would’ve saved her from a lot of trouble.