Passing Summary
Irene Redfield, a light-skinned African American woman and prominent member of the Harlem community, receives a letter from an old friend named Clare Kendry. Like Irene, Clare is light-skinned, but, unlike Irene, Clare has decided to pass as white. Clare feels lonely and isolated and wants Irene's help to become part of Harlem's society.
- Clare and Irene have a strained friendship. Two years prior to the events of the novel, Clare invited Irene over to tea, where she was forced to listen to Clare's husband, John Bellew, make racist comments about black people. John still doesn't know that Clare and Irene are African American.
- Clare's marriage to John has been in trouble for some time and is weakened by the fact that she refuses to follow him to Brazil. Irene suspects that Clare's involvement in the Harlem community will only cause trouble, but she decides to help Clare despite her reservations.
- Irene later learns that her husband Brian has been having an affair with Clare. Brian then confronts Clare at a party at the end of the novel. In the ensuing confusion, Clare falls out a window and dies.
Summary
The complex relationship between Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry is set against a backdrop of racial passing and societal expectations. Their intertwined lives explore themes of identity, loyalty, and the dangers of societal norms. As Irene navigates her friendship with Clare, she must confront her own beliefs and the precariousness of her world.
The Letter and Irene's Dilemma
Irene Redfield receives a letter from Clare Kendry, whose risky decision to "pass" as white adds a layer of danger to her attempt at reconnecting. Irene remembers Clare's unpredictable and cunning nature, noting her independence, selfishness, and her poise in the face of her father's drunken rages. Clare's anger at her father's death in a saloon brawl for leaving her alone only deepens Irene's wariness about rekindling their old connection.
Reunion in Chicago
Clare's letter reveals her presence in New York and her desire to meet, but Irene's mind flashes back to their last encounter in Chicago two summers ago. During a shopping trip for her sons, Brian Jr. and Theodore, Irene had sought respite from the heat at the Drayton Hotel. There, a woman's gaze lingered on her, initially unsettling Irene, who assumed it was due to her race. The woman's laughter would soon reveal her identity as Clare, who had vanished from the black community over a decade ago. Despite initial hesitation, Irene invited her to her home, immediately regretting the impulsive decision. Clare's evasive responses to questions about her racial identity, combined with their shared presence in the all-white hotel, irritated Irene, prompting her to leave and vow to sever ties with Clare.
Persisting Connections
Despite her resolve, Clare's persistence breaks through Irene's defenses. Repeated calls to the Redfield household are ignored, as Irene lets her maid, Liza, answer. However, Clare's relentless badgering finally compels Irene to meet her, bringing her to Clare's home alongside Gertrude Martin, another woman passing as white. Tensions rise as Gertrude's casual remarks about racial preferences provoke Irene, who reminds her of her own "dark" children. The situation escalates when Clare's husband, John "Jack" Bellew, enters, greeting Clare with a racially charged nickname. His unabashed disdain for black people leaves an indignant Irene to hold back her emotions, as she and Gertrude take their leave.
Clare's Plea and Irene's Domestic Strife
Before departing Chicago, Irene receives another plea from Clare, asking for forgiveness and understanding. Irene dismisses the note, turning her focus to her domestic life, where her husband's unhappiness looms large. Two years later, this past encounter resurfaces as Clare reaches out yet again, causing Irene to question Clare's professed love for her heritage during breakfast with Brian. Brian's admiration for Clare's adventurous spirit and his own dreams of moving to Brazil stoke Irene's ire, leading to a discordant parting that leaves her uneasy about her marriage's stability.
A Surprise Visit
In the days following her argument with Brian, Irene attempts to ignore Clare's presence in her life. Yet, Clare appears unexpectedly at Irene's doorstep, eliciting mixed emotions of warmth and caution. Clare's desire to attend the Negro Welfare Dance, organized by Brian, stirs up Irene's apprehensions about the risks involved. Despite her intuition warning against it, Irene acquiesces to Clare's request, only to become frustrated with herself for caving in to Clare's whims.
Suspicion and Tension
As Clare becomes a frequent visitor, Irene's discomfort mounts, noticing a rapport developing between Clare and Brian. Her suspicions burgeon into fear when Clare openly admits her untrustworthiness, while Brian grows increasingly detached. Irene's resentment leads her to fantasize about eliminating Clare from their lives, even wishing harm upon Clare's family. An unexpected encounter with John...
(This entire section contains 767 words.)
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on the street prompts Irene to reveal her racial identity, relishing the distress it causes him. Tempted to expose Clare's secret, she refrains due to a sense of shared racial and gender loyalty.
Confrontation and Tragedy
Before attending a party together, a heated argument between Irene and Brian about parenting reveals Irene's true desire: stability above all else. Shocked by her realization that love has never been a factor in her marriage, she resolves to preserve it at any cost. The party takes an unexpected turn when a furious John barges in, demanding Clare's presence. His derogatory comments incite laughter from Clare, which quickly escalates to a violent confrontation. In a moment of chaos, Clare falls—or is pushed—out the window. While others rush to the scene below, Irene remains, engulfed in a mix of relief and shock over Clare's demise. A police inquiry follows, but Irene denies any foul play, contradicting Brian's claim that John was responsible. Ultimately, the officer concludes Clare's death was accidental.
