"Passing" Part Three

"Passing" was looked at deeply by the author of this essay, and there were some points to be made.  The court case was brought up about the woman who had to undress in front of a jury to determine her race.  How humiliating.  What judge would allow this?  It was clear from his statement to the press after their wedding that he knew she was black, and yet this poor woman had to undress to prove it.  

It was also brought up that there was some homosexuality between Claire and Irene.  I did not see this, but looking back, I suppose there could have been.  Irene was always talking about how good Claire looked, and Irene didn't have a sex life with her husband.  Then there is the scene where Claire kisses Irene's shoulder.  I can see how this could be interpreted, but I did not see it that way and still don't.

The author of this essay made it clear that fashion had a lot to do with the women passing.  It was said that their light skin allowed them to pass, but they wouldn't have been able to without the upper class fashion and etiquette.  I know for a fact that not all white people during the 20's were upper classed and had good manners, so I also think this is a load of crap.  Black people could pass for a poor white person just as easy as a rich white person.  All that mattered was their color, or lack of it.

I do think that Larsen made her characters Jack and Claire from the Rhinelander case.  Why not?  It was an interesting part of history that would make for a great story. 


The fact that Alice's own lawyer made her undress makes me sick.  But then again, it wasn't that long ago that slavery was happening, so it is believable.  I would like to think that all this happened a thousand years ago and since then we have been tolerant, but that just isn't so.

Her lawyer, however, must have known what he was doing because they won the case.  But could it have not been won any other way?  Any way at all that would preserve Alice's dignity?

I have to say I disagree with the writer of this essay on the homosexual undertones, and of them needing more than light skin to pass.  Maybe, if they had an accent of sorts, it would need to be covered up.  Maybe the way they talked and acted would have given them up.  But I don't think that money should have had anything to do with it.  But money always does.

I think sometimes critics read too much into works.  Literature can be analyzed and interpreted so much that by the time you are done you don't even have the same piece you started with.  Sometimes authors haven't hidden clues to be found.  Sometimes it is just simple:

*Two women

*They are passing

*One gets reckless, makes the other angry

*They feel connected because of their race, their past, their fear

*One gets paranoid because her marriage is already in shambles, and the other is prettier

*Paranoia turns quickly into hatred

*The hatred boils over and causes one woman to snap

*The end

Perhaps there were hidden messages to be found.  But sometimes it's just better to keep things simple.

Until next time,

Keri Jo