Racial Passing: A Comparative Reading of Jessie Fauset’s "Plum Bun" and Nella Larsen’s "Passing" and "Quicksand"

Table of Contents

• Foreword/Abstract
• 1. The Phenomenon of 'Racial Passing'
• 1.1 The Passer
• 1.2 Laws and Beliefs
• 2. Passing in Literature
• 2.1 The 'Tragic Mulatto'
• 2.2 The Octoroon
• 3. Other Forms of Passing
• 4. The Novels
• 4.1 Racial Passing in the Novels
• 4.1.1 Chiaroscuro
• 4.1.2 Polemics
• 4.1.3 The Return Home
• 4.1.4 Secrecy
• 4.1.5 The Death of the Heroine
• 4.2 Passing for What?
• 4.2.1 Helga's Passing for an Identity
• 4.2.2 Sexual Passing
• 4.2.3 Are PB, Q and P Conventional Passing Stories?
• Afterword

Objectives and Key Themes

This thesis examines the theme of racial passing in three major novels of the Harlem Renaissance: Nella Larsen's *Quicksand* and *Passing*, and Jessie Fauset's *Plum Bun*. The primary objective is to analyze how these novels explore the phenomenon of racial passing, focusing on black-to-white passing within the context of American society. The study will delve into the social, cultural, and psychological implications of this practice. * The definition and various typologies of racial passing. * The role of secrecy, guilt, and societal perceptions in the experience of passing. * The literary representation of the "tragic mulatto" and other passing figures. * An examination of the novels' portrayals of racism and sexism. * Comparative analysis of the three novels and their treatment of passing.

Chapter Summaries

**1. The Phenomenon of ‘Racial Passing’**: This chapter lays the groundwork for the thesis by defining racial passing and exploring its various forms beyond the common understanding of black-to-white passing. It highlights the prevalence of other types, including gender passing and social passing, broadening the scope of the analysis. The chapter provides statistical estimates regarding the number of people who engaged in racial passing, acknowledging the difficulties in obtaining accurate figures due to the inherent secrecy involved. It emphasizes the cultural context of black-to-white passing in the United States and establishes the parameters for the subsequent analysis of the chosen novels. **2. Passing in Literature**: This chapter explores the literary representation of racial passing, tracing its evolution as a literary genre. A key focus is on the "tragic mulatto" archetype, examining its portrayal in literature and its significance in shaping perceptions of racial passing. The chapter also delves into other forms of literary representations of passing, setting the stage for a detailed analysis of how the chosen novels engage with and potentially subvert established literary conventions. **3. Other Forms of Passing**: This chapter expands the concept of passing beyond racial passing, examining diverse instances where individuals cross boundaries separating social groups. Examples include religious passing, ethnic passing and other forms of social passing. This chapter likely broadens the scope, providing a contextual understanding of passing as a multifaceted social phenomenon. **4. The Novels**: This chapter delves into a detailed comparative analysis of the three selected Harlem Renaissance novels. The analysis focuses on how these novels portray racial passing, examining themes such as secrecy, the "return home," and the tragic death of the heroine. The chapter likely also examines how the novels explore the motivations for passing and the consequences it entails. The chapter's sub-sections indicate a close examination of specific narrative techniques and recurring motifs related to the central theme of passing in the context of the chosen novels.

Keywords

Racial passing, Harlem Renaissance, Nella Larsen, Jessie Fauset, *Passing*, *Quicksand*, *Plum Bun*, black-to-white passing, tragic mulatto, secrecy, identity, racism, sexism, literature, social groups, cultural identity, interracial relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Racial Passing in Harlem Renaissance Novels

What is the main topic of this academic text?

This text is a comprehensive analysis of racial passing, specifically black-to-white passing, in three major novels of the Harlem Renaissance: Nella Larsen's Quicksand and Passing, and Jessie Fauset's Plum Bun. It examines the social, cultural, and psychological implications of this practice within the context of American society.

What are the key themes explored in the analysis?

The analysis explores several key themes, including the definition and various typologies of racial passing; the role of secrecy, guilt, and societal perceptions in the experience of passing; the literary representation of the "tragic mulatto" and other passing figures; the novels' portrayals of racism and sexism; and a comparative analysis of the three novels and their treatment of passing.

What is the scope of the analysis regarding "passing"?

While the primary focus is on black-to-white racial passing, the analysis broadens the concept to encompass other forms of passing, such as gender passing, religious passing, ethnic passing, and other social passing. This provides a richer understanding of passing as a multifaceted social phenomenon.

How are the three novels analyzed?

The analysis involves a detailed comparative study of Quicksand, Passing, and Plum Bun. It examines how each novel portrays racial passing, focusing on themes such as secrecy, the "return home," the tragic death of the heroine, and the motivations and consequences of passing. The analysis also delves into specific narrative techniques and recurring motifs related to the central theme.

What is the structure of the text?

The text includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The main body is structured around four chapters: Chapter 1 defines racial passing and explores its various forms; Chapter 2 examines the literary representation of racial passing, focusing on the "tragic mulatto" archetype; Chapter 3 expands the concept of passing beyond racial passing; and Chapter 4 provides a detailed analysis of the three chosen novels.

What are some of the key literary figures and concepts discussed?

Key literary figures include Nella Larsen and Jessie Fauset. Key concepts discussed include the "tragic mulatto," the role of secrecy in passing, and the various social and psychological implications of choosing to pass. The analysis also explores the novels' portrayals of racism and sexism within the context of the Harlem Renaissance.

What are the keywords associated with this text?

Keywords include: Racial passing, Harlem Renaissance, Nella Larsen, Jessie Fauset, Passing, Quicksand, Plum Bun, black-to-white passing, tragic mulatto, secrecy, identity, racism, sexism, literature, social groups, cultural identity, interracial relationships.