Lecture Notes: Week 4, Lecture 2 - "Passing" by Nella Larsen

Introduction

• Course: Humanities 202
• Lecture Focus: The novella "Passing" by Nella Larsen, published in the late 1920s
• Context: Halfway through the summer session
• Discussion Reference: Opening excerpt from Countee Cullen's poem "Heritage"

Themes and Connections

Connection to "Heritage"

• Discussion Point: Internal divisions within African-American identity
• Comparison: Contrasts between Countee Cullen and Langston Hughes regarding racial identity and connections

Divided Identity in "Passing"

• Main Characters: Irene and Claire
• Core Struggle: Both characters wrestle with their racial identity and what it means to be African-American versus white

Key Scene: Page 190

• Conversation: Ted asks his father Brian why lynching occurs; Irene tries to distance herself from racial problems
• Significance: Highlights Irene's desire for normalcy by avoiding racial discussions, reflecting internal conflict

Irene's Ambivalence towards Claire

• Mixed Feelings: Irene feels both attraction and repulsion towards Claire due to Claire's ability to "pass" as white