Passing part II

If you were to read the novel passing you would notice the slow psychosis of the character Irene. She seems to slowly become psychotic. She seems to be having much resentment for her husband. In essence it came down to who she really wanted to destroy. She saved her husband for the fact that he was the father to her two children.

Clare really needed to be destroyed in Irene's mind. Perhaps it's because their relationship was so complex she was jealous of the relationship between Clare and Brian. It seems as though her attitude towards Clare changes right after Brian invites Clare to a party. Her mental health slowly diminishes after that. She then thinks of herself only as a mother. On page on 144 she begins to only think of herself as an obstacle. Her idea that Brian and Clare are having an affair continue to overtake her mind, she even says on page 152 "Why spare Clare?" late on in the page she even questions her own race. For the first time she wished that she was not born black.

Page 156 of the novel shows Irene's contemplation to kill Clare. It specially states "If Clare should die! Then oh it was Vile! To think, yes, to wish that! She felt faint and sick. But the thought stayed with her she could not get rid of it." This passage suggests the sick and twisted mind of Irene. She wanted Irene dead but the thought of it made her sick. This novel should really be in a psychology class to study the psychology of women's minds.

The Best of the Brownies’ Book

I really enjoyed reading these passages. I specifically enjoyed "Dolly's Dream" by Nora Waring. It was about a young African American girl who wanted golden curls. As we all know having blonde curls is usually predominant in the white race. At six years old this is all Dolly wanted was golden curly locks.

This passage reminds me of everyday life. There is no young girl that thinks that they are perfect, we are constantly trying to change ourselves. I am reminded by a book I read a few years ago Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye. "The Bluest Eye is about a young African woman who wants blue eyes. Essentially she goes crazy wanting these blue eyes.

These two pieces of literature remind me of the novel "Passing" and the "Autobiography of an ex Coloured man." It seems as though many blacks in the Harlem Renaissance wanted to be white or have white tendencies. I wonder why it would be so much better to have white features when you would have to sacrifice everything about your heritage to do so.

Passing

Througout the whole novel of passing I'm feeling a resentment from Clare Kendry to Irene Redfield. Clare seemed too inlove with herself. I think she wishes she was more like Irene. Even though Clare has more money I think she wants to be noticed for her roots.

Irene married a black man. She has a father unlike Clare. Her upbringing was better and Irene never had to hide a secret. She knew exactly who she was.

Larsen portrayed Clare as a complete opposite of other writers that we have read. Take for instance McKay. He was constantly longing to go back to his roots. Deep down I think this is what Clare wanted. She resented Irene for staying with her roots. That is why she was so insistant on making her go to her tea parties. Thats why it was soo important for her to meet her husband. Clare was showing off that she was so white and pure that even her husband could call her "Nig" without anybody being the wiser.

Irene made me think a lot about Johnson. They both seem to pass only when it is convient for them. They like to think of their race as a shock value. That society would be shocked to know if they were white or black.

A good old fashioned Hanging

For those of you who do not ,my family and I have suffered the loss of my Uncle. He was a very important and influential man in our lives. As a result my brothers and I decided to cut loose. This weekend we went to Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Escape In Lake George NY.

The day was going great. We saw an Elvis impersonation show. Which if you know me know that my brother Jeff and I are obsessed with Elvis. My brother Robbie and I rode all the rides that were open,which if you have been to Disney know are terrible and unreeling to say the least.

On our way out we saw a huge crowd gathered for a skit in the main entrance of the park. We had to stop and see. What we saw was horrifying. We saw the skit hanging of a child.

It was supposed to be a reenactment of the Salem Witch Trials. The hangman kept asking the crowd if we should hang this child who was in reality a very petite woman. What made my stomach turn was the crowd cheering this on. They were excited and asking for it.

They put a cloth over her face and a Noose around her neck. She was then hung on cables and she pretended to shake her feet as if she was really dying.

I kept looking at my brothers we all stared in astonishment. With everything that is going on in the news I thought this was highly inappropriate. I can not imagine the thoughts going through the mind of crowds who actually witnessed a hanging. A burning and a hanging to go with the smells. Even though it was a reenactment I was sick to my stomach. The way the people acted like barbarians, I couldn't imagine. There were children around. As a child one does not know the difference between make believe and real. It serves their parents right for having to pay their therapy bills in years to come.

Don't get me wrong, I love Halloween, and I never turn down an opportunity to have fun. This skit is wrong in every way shape and form. Luckily I'm one of the educated to stop this from hopefully happening again. I will never ever go to The Great Escape ever again.