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like most likely.likely.The Harlem Renaissance occured during the 1920s. African Americans were progessing greatly in society. They created Jazz with famous artists like Duke Ellington and Langston Hughes ("Three Notes toward a Cultural Definition of the Harlem Renaissance"). African Americans were still segregated, but gained more money by performing or writing. It was a time filled with entertainment and blossoming of new music; however, it also had its downsides ("Three Notes toward a Cultural Definition of the Harlem Renaissance"). Some would write about the disillusionment, discontent, and despair of WWI. African American writers would write about the hardships of their life, but also trying to be free and accepted as equal. Some would also contain the living conditions of both races and how they were different.

g {harlem.jpg} This is Harlem in the 1920s. This is what Irene Redfield's home looked like most likely.

dQuite a variety of authors tend to believe Nella Larsen put her life into her books ("Nella Larsen"). Due to the fact that like her characters, Nella Larsen is of mixed race, many critics and authors tend to believe she put her own life into her work. Her characters went to the same colleges as her and went through many of the struggles she did. Both her books can be used as evidence for those statements. The title for Passing, does a magnificint job of explaining the book's plot in one word ("PASSING"). Passing basically means hiding the truth about race and sexuality. Publishers Weekly definitely believes the title clearly illustrates the conflicts within the book.

The main characters are Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry. They were childhood friends, growing up in the same neighborhood. "It must be, she figured, all of twelve years since she, or anybody that she knew, had laid eyes on Clare Kendry," (Larson 181). This is the beginning of the great encounter between these two women. Irene remembers the day she recounterd Clare. They saw each other again on the roof of a white cafe; both women pass for white for social events ("Review of Passing"). Irene is invited to Clare's home where she meets her husband who is an extreme racist. Clare is passing for white for all the benefits. Clare desires to retouch her background and does so with Irene. Clare visits Irene very often, while her husband is away. As the story continues, Irene sets out to ruin Clare because she thinks Clare is having an affair with Brian, Irene's husband, who is black. One day Irene hints at Clare's husband that Clare is black. The book ends with Clare, Brian, and Irene at a party in a building. Clare's husband has discovered the truth and barges in trying to look for her and confront her in front of everyone, but Clare is gone. The book makes us question whether she committed suicide....or if Irene pushed her out the window. At the beginning of the book I felt it was a little...dry. It took awhile for it to develop. The ending surprised me; it was a good book; however, I wish there had been more detail. The people who would enjoy this book are those who like mystery and drama. The book does a good job of mixing jealousy and friendship to make it intriguing.
window again. {cafe} The cafe is important because this is really where everything starts. The whole book unravels because Irene and Clare re-encounter at a white cafe.

The main characters are Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry. They were childhood friends, growing up in the same neighborhood. "It must be, she figured, all of twelve years since she, or anybody that she knew, had laid eyes on Clare Kendry," (Larson 181). This is the beginning of the great encounter between these two women. Irene remembers the day she recounterd Clare. They saw each other again on the roof of a white cafe; both women pass for white for social events ("Review of Passing"). Irene is invited to Clare's home where she meets her husband who is an extreme racist. Clare is passing for white for all the benefits. Clare desires to retouch her background and does so with Irene. Clare visits Irene very often, while her husband is away. As the story continues, Irene sets out to ruin Clare because she thinks Clare is having an affair with Brian, Irene's husband, who is black. One day Irene hints at Clare's husband that Clare is black. The book ends with Clare, Brian, and Irene at a party in a building. Clare's husband has discovered the truth and barges in trying to look for her and confront her in front of everyone, but Clare is gone. The book makes us question whether she committed suicide....or if Irene pushed her out the window. At the beginning of the book I felt it was a little...dry. It took awhile for it to develop. The ending surprised me; it was a good book; however, I wish there had been more detail. The people who would enjoy this book are those who like mystery and drama. The book does a good job of mixing jealousy and friendship to make it intriguing.
{harlem.jpg} This Harlem around the 1920s. The buildings seem small, and{window.jpg} A window is important because this how Clare dies. The reader is what Irene's home looked like most likely.left to question whether she committed suicide or whether Irene pushed her out. At the very end, a century after Irene can hear a strange man saying to check out that window again.