A Study of Irony -Mary Mabel Youman

In the article, "Nella Larson's Passing: A study of Irony" Mary Mabel Youman looks at Nella Larson's Passing with particular interest on iront and focuses on class not race..  The author begins by acknowledging Irene Redfield as both the protagonist and also the narrator of the novel.  Youman focuses primarily on Irene and how she herself is passing. She argues from Irene’s perspective, what is motivating her to pass is not race, but class.  It is interesting because Irene, herself, has adopted very different values, “security, middle class morality, and middle class standing,” and at all costs will do anything to protect them.  It is her who,“has lost her Black heritage of spontaneity, freedom from convention and zest for life” (Youman 337).  Youman also compares Irene to Clare by examining the letter that is sent at the beginning of the novel.  The letter is described in great detail most likely leaving many readers confused but to Youman the details of the letter have a greater meaning.  She believes that it is one of the ultimate comparisons of Irene and Clare, the letter type and size in her opinion demonstrates Clare’s “zest for life and means to flaunt the conventions that restrict her”  (Youman 338).  To Youman, this posed as a threat to Irene secure life and as a result she has to tragically end Clare's life. For Youman the problem arises in the "vagueness of the desirable black spirit" (Youman 338). In Youman's opinion, the novel is "disconcertingly vague on what should be joyously embraced" (Youman 340).

Although Youman makes a compelling argument, I believe that in many ways she is reading too deep into the text.  One way in particular with the details surrounding the letter Clare sent Irene at the beginning of the novel.  To Youman, the attention to details about the letter, the type of paper, the envelope, the size actually all share a symbolic meaning.  She argues that these minor details demonstrate Clare’s ambitious, “zest for life and means to flaunt the conventions that might restrict her” (Youman 338).  As a reader, as I read this part of the novel I did pay attention to the letter but in my opinion that was not the message that was supposed to be conveyed.

Another argument that she makes is the idea of Irene rejecting and abandoning her “black life” (Youman 337). The impression that I had of Irene Redfield was not that of someone who wanted to separate herself from her heritage but I saw her as a strong, secure African American woman.  Her lifestyle is that of someone who truly believes in her African American heritage although she is wealthy, she raises money and hosts several events for local Harlem organizations.  To me it is Clare who obviously abandoned her culture, while Irene embraces it.

The irony that Youman presents a thought-provoking interpretation of the text.  Although I do not entirely agree with her arguments ultimately I can see how it came about.  As I was reading the text I focused almost entirely on the issue of racial identity and conflict but now I can see how class is an important issue as well. Youman’s argument that opposing values that were threatening to the middle class lifestyle Irene had, had to be destroyed.  Brian’s ambition to work abroad posed a threat to the lifestyle Irene had become accustomed to so it could not happen.