Denial linked to Sexuality and Racial Identity by Mercedes Celestine

Denial in the psychological world is used as a defense mechanism in which confrontation with a personal problem or with reality is avoided by denying the existence of the problem or reality (Merriam webster1`d`s). Both novels Passing and Black no more portray denial in unique ways. In passing, denial is shown by the characters Clare and Irene by their sexuality and racial identity. Black no more shows how most of the characters (Max Disher) were in denial by thinking the color of their skin would change who they were when the only thing it did was make things worse for the characters understanding their racial identity. I chose both novels to display how denial can link to affect people as far as self-esteem, love,  understanding oneself, and understanding their sexuality.  Denial can be tricky to talk about, but the plan is to inform and tackle why denial plays such an important role in both novels. 

The novel passing by Nella (1929) is about two biracial women (Clare and Irene) who pass as white. According to my choice, your categories: The denial of multiracial identities,  although not all mixed-race individuals identify as biracial or multiracial, preventing individuals from choosing more than one racial background effectively denies the identity of those who do.  Irene who has a black husband and is accepted in both black and white communities passes only for her convenience such as passing for fair treatment when out in public. Clare passes full time such as going far as having a Caucasian husband and considering herself completely white. Clare’s husband is unaware of her identity for the most part of the novel, but Clare rather kept it that way even though it was hurting her mentally. With Clare identifying herself as a fully Caucasian woman for a better financial life and fair treatment was not only living life in denial but having a problem with her racial identity as well. She pushed herself to believe that it was okay to ‘pass’ as white knowing the consequences that could’ve happened when her husband found out the truth and she chose to proceed anyway. If Clare and Irene don’t portray the definition of denial, I don’t know what does. “Irene focuses heavenly on the idea of “uplifting the race”, referencing and engaging with her identity as a black woman, but in doing so is also ignoring the fact that her identity is inherently Black and White, due to the fact that society forces her to choose one of these labels in her performance of identity” (Alyson Sebright). What’s ironic though is Irene criticizes Carlene’s decision to pass as white but does it herself when it suits her. “Passing is a novel highly concerned with the reality of uncertainty, specifically in terms of identity” (Alyson Sebright). 

Racial Identity wasn’t the only thing Irene wasn’t in denial about. It was sexuality as well. According to in the place of Clare Kendry: A gothic reading of race and sexuality in Nella Larsen’s passing, Irene’s sexual attraction to Clare is a beautiful contradiction of feelings that can be explained through her response to sublimity. . Clare makes Irene furious, vulnerable; she takes Irene’s breath away. Even though Clare and Irene were friends, it seemed that it was more than what was portrayed in the novel and movie. During the renaissance times, it was not the norm to talk about sex quite boldly, but I felt like Larsen was trying to get us to read between the lines that there was something very much there. In the part where they were at a party, Irene reached out to Clare’s hand and exchanged a look that friends don’t even give each other. When Irene's husband approached them, Irene removed her hand from Clare quickly and shyly looked off as she touched something that gave her desire and guilt. Another time was when Clare wrote Irene plenty of letters just to only ignore them to Irene assuming something going on between her husband and Clare justifies something… she was in love with Clare.  Irene was just in denial of her true feelings along with being in denial of accepting who she was so. 

Denial is never easy to discuss. People can tend to want to portray themselves to be something that makes them believe what they want to make whether false or true. Both novels passing and black no more portray that. Clare and Irene were in denial along with Max dished thinking that changing his skin white would change his racial identity.  

 

                  

 

 

Works Cited 

 

. President's Writing Awards. “Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Nella Larsen's Passing: An Exploration of Performed Identity.” President's Writing Awards, 21 May 2020, https://www.boisestate.edu/presidents-writing-awards/race-gender-and-sexuality-in-nella-larsens-passing-an-exploration-of-performed-identity/. 

 

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Denial definition & meaning. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved May 2, 2022, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denial 

Townsend, Sarah S. M., Hazel R. Markus, and Hilary B. Bergsieker. “My Choice, Your Categories: The Denial of Multiracial Identities.” Journal of Social Issues 65.1 (2009): 185–204. Web. 

In the place of Clare Kendry: A Gothic reading of race and sexuality in ... (n.d.). Retrieved May 2, 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jm_Wagner2/publication/236802957_In_the_Place_of_Clare_Kendry_A_Gothic_Reading_of_Race_and_Sexuality_in_Nella_Larsen%27s_Passing/links/57c694b808aec24de040fe99.pdf 

 

Schuyler, George S. Black No More. New York: Modern Library, 1999. Print.

Larsen, Nella, Deborah E. McDowell, and Nella Larsen. Quicksand: And, Passing. New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press, 1986. Print.