While reading Re-encounter I noticed a lot about Irene as a person. She is a very scared and nervous person and that calls to many different things. She isn’t comfortable with Clare coming to visit her in Harlem and she isn’t comfortable with her son being exposed to the inevitable. This is very different from Clare who doesn’t shy away from doing things for her pleasure. Although it was risky for her to come to Harlem she did it anyway, and although it also might’ve been unsafe to attend the dance Irene mentioned to her, she still was really excited to go. For her, it’s all about doing what she wants no matter the consequence. Irene on the other hand is very much not like that and overthinks every little thing. It’s hard for Irene to understand Clare and while she expresses a lot of irritation towards her you also notice the intrigue that she feels for her as well.