Encounter in Passing really fills in some details to why Clare had done what she has done. But I think what sets Encounter apart from the movie is that the movie made it sound like Clare made great sacrifices to obtain a white identity, while the book makes it seem that she had always been “white”, and given that she has a white family (plus her dad’s side, who were black) and now she not only passes as “white” she is also passing as “black” and how because of her features she can play both sides (blonde hair, fair skin, black eyes). She was too black to be white (at least to her family, “can’t forgive the tarbrush”) and too white to be black, at least on paper. Technically because she had some black in her no matter how white she was, she was black due to one drop rule, but her character’s identity shows the ambiguity of whiteness itself, that it is not as defined as most people make it seem to be, and that race is more societal construct than objective reality.
3 thoughts on “Playing Both Sides – Passing Novel Hot Take”
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I like that your point brings up how Clare has experienced alienation from whites as well. The movie makes it seemed like she always passed and that she did it by choice, but from reading the book I wonder if Clare felt like she had to pass in order to survive. Not just in society, but in her family as well
Dorian, opposite to what you’re saying about Clare not fitting in with black people or white people, she is also very privileged. At least in the movie, Clare is able to get along with people of all races due to her ability to relate to both black and white people. This gives her an advantage that many black people did not have, she can chose when to pass and when she wants to be black.
I feel that when it comes Clare not really fitting in with black people and or white. I feel like she did have the privilege. She was able to get along with everyone. This can be a upper hand for her Clare because not many black people didn’t have this advantage.