4 thoughts on “Risky Business — “Passing” Hot Take”
Hi Sable,
I agree with your analysis of the Gertrude character, I also feel like her purpose was to truly showcase how intense or wild Clare’s actions were since Gertrude was initially presented as sort of toeing the line between Black and white. On your point of Clare’s sense of danger, I think that she definitely wants to get “found out” but not necessarily by her white husband and family. She misses the Black experience and is acting less cautiously around Irene because she wants to be accepted into the fold again.
I interpreted Claire’s risks are a form of rebellion, against the general discourse of society. Deep down, she’s unhappy that she has to lie and pass as a white woman because in her perspective, she’d be the exact same person no matter her color. But in a logical sense, she keeps passing because the consequences are severe. They terrify her.
YES! I am glad you bring up the point of Gertrude and Irene’s disapproval of her current marriage. I personally think Clare has a taste for danger actually. Because of her abusive upbringing where she likely constantly feared for her life, I believe this is something that she took with her into her adult life and maybe cause issues that Clare is aware of yet still chooses to “tango with death”.
Clare is a savage and a risk taker. You pointing out that Irene and Gertrude saw how dangerous Clare is, especially when she spends more and more time in Harlem. She is absolutely living on the edge and probably self coconsciously want to be caught. I think you did great with pointing out how Gertrude and Irene predicted Irene’s fate based on her reckless choices. Interesting enough, Clare’s dangerous ways still make her more likeable than Irene.
Hi Sable,
I agree with your analysis of the Gertrude character, I also feel like her purpose was to truly showcase how intense or wild Clare’s actions were since Gertrude was initially presented as sort of toeing the line between Black and white. On your point of Clare’s sense of danger, I think that she definitely wants to get “found out” but not necessarily by her white husband and family. She misses the Black experience and is acting less cautiously around Irene because she wants to be accepted into the fold again.
I interpreted Claire’s risks are a form of rebellion, against the general discourse of society. Deep down, she’s unhappy that she has to lie and pass as a white woman because in her perspective, she’d be the exact same person no matter her color. But in a logical sense, she keeps passing because the consequences are severe. They terrify her.
YES! I am glad you bring up the point of Gertrude and Irene’s disapproval of her current marriage. I personally think Clare has a taste for danger actually. Because of her abusive upbringing where she likely constantly feared for her life, I believe this is something that she took with her into her adult life and maybe cause issues that Clare is aware of yet still chooses to “tango with death”.
Clare is a savage and a risk taker. You pointing out that Irene and Gertrude saw how dangerous Clare is, especially when she spends more and more time in Harlem. She is absolutely living on the edge and probably self coconsciously want to be caught. I think you did great with pointing out how Gertrude and Irene predicted Irene’s fate based on her reckless choices. Interesting enough, Clare’s dangerous ways still make her more likeable than Irene.