Reading Race in Nella Larsen’s Passing and the Rhinelander Case

摘要: Toward the end of Nella Larsen’s Passing (1929), protagonist Irene Redfield imagines how her friend Clare Kendry’s racist husband might react if he discovers his wife’s “true” racial identity: “What Bellew should divorce Clare? Could he? There was Rhinelander case.” This essay argues that what seems like a casual reference to contemporary event actually underscores central theme novel: case and both illustrate problematic ways Americans sought categorize mixed-race individuals in 1920s, but while verdict denies existence middle ground between absolutes, novel affirms it. Larsen directly references only once, its themes echo throughout text Passing, which challenges visibility race conception identity as intimately connected one's essential self. Irene's calls mind very public trial forced question their understanding difference. In , explores conceptions real physical fact an imagined social construct, logic “common knowledge” assigning individuals.