Write a discussion on Nella Larsen’s novel Passing, a seminal text of African American literature. Published during the Harlem Renaissance, Larsen’s second novel deals with the complexity of race through the rekindled friendship of two light-brown-skinned women, both of whom are able to pass for white. Race relations were of significant importance to writers, especially Black writers, of Larsen’s era. Larsen’s novel, nonetheless, can be read as an exploration of several other themes: sexuality, patriotism, marriage, the experiences of women during the 1920s, identity, and class. We have discussed the novel from a number of the aforementioned perspectives, evaluating the use of symbols, motifs and major themes, the settings, and the contradictions within characters.
