“Except for these few unconnected things the dance faded to a blurred memory, its outlines mingling with those of other dances of its kind that she had attended in the past and would attend in the future.”
Passing, by Nella Larsen, page 78
As she had mentioned earlier in her description of the dance to Clare, anyone who had a dollar to pay for the ticket would be there. However, as she had made this description to Clare, alongside the general racial tension described in the book, I had an idea that this might have just been an excuse to dissuade Clare from attending.
I found it noteworthy that, for the first time in this book, there is a mix and interaction of races in a setting void of racial tension. Three-quarters of the book depicts racial tension and the one scene that is lacking is not as highly detailed. In the case where Irene feels infuriated and humiliated during the tea with Mr. Bellew, there is an extensive description of Irene’s sentiments and subsequent actions in regards to contact with Clare. Yet, an event of such importance to the community is shrugged off.
Just as the people in the dance, the entire night was disconnected and simply just a mixture of things. Those who attended came from a conglomeration of racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; so incredibly mixed, that it is difficult to pinpoint where each individual might be from. This stark contrast between descriptions serves to show that although racism may have been the norm of the time, it was not the norm for Irene, which is part of the reason why she is so put off by her interaction with Mr. Bellew, but regards the dance so normally
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