Passing By Nella Larsen Summary

Honesty Is Happiness On page fourteen of, Passing, Nella Larsen wrote, “An attractive looking woman was Irene’s opinion, with those dark, almost black eyes and that wide mouth like a scarlet flower against the ivory of her skin. Nice clothes too, just right for the weather, thin and cool without being mussy, as summer things were apt to be” (Larsen, Page 14). Throughout the novel Larsen hints at a hidden homosexual theme, along with the racial theme of passing. Larsen’s use of imagery, vivid diction, and figurative language in the passage helps convey the underlying theme of homosexuality in the novel. Larsen creates a real bold image in the passage from page fourteen of, Passing. The reader can clearly see Irene Redfield gawking over the appearance of Clare Kendry, “An attractive looking woman was Irene’s opinion…” (Larsen, Page 14). One can really picture Irene staring down Clare Kendry at the restaurant, observing her physical appearance. Therefore, Larsen’s use of imagery helps to convey to the reader, the underlying theme of homosexuality throughout the novel. The theme of passing racially is made clear throughout the story; however, one has to dig deeper to get at the theme of homosexuality. The images that Larsen creates of Irene Redfield admiring Clare Kendry’s physical features, help to show that Irene Redfield
Larsen could have just writte that Clare had nice lips; however, her use of simile helps to show how much of trance that Irene Redfield was in while observing Clare Kendry, “…and that wide mouth like a scarlet flower against the ivory of her skin” (Larsen, Page 14). The direct comparison of Clare Kendry’s mouth to a scarlet flower really provokes a strong image in the reader’s head, of how gorgeous Clare Kendry’s lips must have been, and how much Irene Redfield must have wanted to kiss