The 1850 United States Census offered for the first time three options in the category of color: In addition to ‘white’ and ‘black,’ the option of ‘mulatto’ was introduced (Douglas and Yates 44). The idea for this inclusion was forwarded by the northern states of the U.S. as the South was not keen on acknowledging any mixing of the races: A mulatto or mulatta is a child born to one white and one black parent. During slavery, thousands of mulatto children were born to slave mothers and white free men, most often the masters of the women. Due to the one-drop rule (which classified anyone with as little as one drop of African blood as black), these children inherited the race and status from their mothers.In the 1920s, when the author Nella Larsen came to fame, the ‘color line’ between black and white Americans was drawn more sharply than ever before (cf. Kaplan xv).
As mulattoes and mulattas can be of a very light complexion, they are predestined to ‘pass’ for white. This means that they can cross the constructed color line and live as white people. There are various, widely differing, guesses as to how many mulatto and black people passed in the late 1920s: The numbers range from 5,000 people in the U.S.each year to 75,000 people in only one city per day (cf. Kaplan xv). The concept of passing created two distinct feelings. The fact that people could simply assume another racial identity created fascination, on the one hand, and terror, on the other hand.
The two protagonists of Nella Larsen’sPassing (1929), Irene and Clare, are mulattas. Though they have grown up together, they have made different choices and lead different lives: Clare has passed for white formany years, whereas Irene has stayed within the black community.A detailed comparison shows that these two women do not only represent different options for mulatto people, but that they also share characteristics. As far as character types are concerned, Clare represents the tragic mulatta. Yet Larsen puts forth a revision of this literary tradition and character type. Irene exemplifies the moral black bourgeoisie, though it becomes evident that Larsen distances herself from Irene and the black bourgeoisie’s morals and ethics. Irene, in addition, also possesses tragic elements. Despite representing different character types, both Irene and Clare are the literary descendants of Iola Leroy, title character of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper’s novel Iola Leroy; or, Shadows Uplifted.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Background Information
- Passing and Passing Narratives
- The Mulatto Character
- Nella Larsen and Passing
- Irene and Clare
- Differences: Two Sides of the Color Line
- Parallels: Irene and Clare as Halved Selves
- Clare – Revision of the Tragic Mulatta
- Irene – A Moral Black Bourgeoise?
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The paper examines the concept of "passing" in Nella Larsen’s novella "Passing," which revolves around two mulatto women, Irene and Clare, who made different choices regarding their racial identity. This paper aims to analyze these choices, their impact on the lives of the protagonists, and the broader implications of "passing" within the context of race and identity in America during the 1920s.
- The concept of “passing” and its impact on the lives of mulatto people
- The different choices Irene and Clare make regarding their racial identity
- The social and psychological consequences of passing
- The literary tradition of the tragic mulatta and its revision in "Passing"
- The role of the black bourgeoisie in shaping racial identities and social norms
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction introduces the concept of "passing" and its historical context in America, highlighting the social construct of the "color line" and the phenomenon of people with mixed-race backgrounds choosing to identify as white. The paper focuses on the two main characters, Irene and Clare, who represent different approaches to navigating this reality.
Chapter two provides a broader framework for understanding the concept of "passing" and its representation in American literature. It examines the evolution of the "passing novel" and the portrayal of the mulatto character in both abolitionist and post-emancipation works.
Chapter three delves into the life and career of Nella Larsen, the author of "Passing," highlighting her personal experience with racial ambiguity and her involvement in the Harlem Renaissance. The chapter explores the context surrounding the publication of "Passing" and its critical reception.
Chapter four provides a detailed comparison of Irene and Clare, analyzing their differences and similarities. It highlights their contrasting choices regarding race, their social positions, and their relationships with the black community.
Chapter five focuses on the character of Clare, exploring her role as a revision of the traditional "tragic mulatta" trope. The chapter examines the literary tradition of the tragic mulatta and the ways in which Larsen subverts and critiques this trope through Clare's complex and ambiguous character.
Chapter six examines the character of Irene and her representation of the black bourgeoisie. It explores the societal expectations and pressures placed on the black bourgeoisie in the 1920s and analyzes Irene's internal struggles, hypocrisy, and insecurities.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper explores key themes and concepts related to race, identity, and social constructs in America, including: passing, mulatto, color line, racial ambiguity, tragic mulatta, black bourgeoisie, Harlem Renaissance, social etiquette, and fashion.
- Quote paper
- Kathrin Hoffmann (Author), 2013, Mulatto Womanhood and Literary Traditions in Nella Larsen's "Passing", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/270357
