The stoping of Nella Laren ‘s Passing is celebrated for its ambiguity and obscureness ; the decease of Clare Kendry is ne’er clear defined and mistily stated. Despite this calculated evasion on the writer ‘s portion, there is unequivocal grounds hidden within the text that Clare ‘s decease is in fact a homicide. Clare Kendry ‘s decease was non a self-destruction ; the one individual who had changeless and progressive ground for the slaying Clare was her supposed friend, Irene Redfield.

One of the chief suspects in the decease of Clare Kendry is her longtime childhood friend, Irene Redfield. Although they have known each other since they immature, they drifted apart as they aged ; it had been “ … twelve old ages since she aˆ¦ had laid eyes on Clare Kendry ” ( 18 ) . It is merely through opportunity that these two were reunited, something that Irene would hold instead left unchanged ; Irene has repeatedly displayed a increasing desire to interrupt ties with Clare, doing many efforts “ aˆ¦ to state Clare Kendry at one time, and decidedly, that it was of no usage, her coming, aˆ¦ ” ( 64 ) . These tactics ranged from non answering to Clare ‘s mail or phone calls, though it “ aˆ¦ round like something possessed ” ( 32 ) to lying about her agenda and how she is “ aˆ¦ filled upaˆ¦ [ and ] aˆ¦ so regretful ” ( 23 ) that her could non be with Clare. Irene could hold been avoiding Clare because she is covetous of her expressions and of how Clare is “ aˆ¦ exquisite, aureate, fragrant, [ and ] flauntingaˆ¦ [ how ] aˆ¦her glittering hairaˆ¦ [ and ] aˆ¦ eyes triping like dark gems ” ( 74 ) . Irene frequently “ aˆ¦ felt dowdy and platitude ” ( 74 ) when compared to Clare. Another ground Irene wanted Clare to go forth her controlled life was that she suspected Clare to be prosecuting and infatuating with Brian, Irene ‘s hubby. As clip passed, Brian “ aˆ¦ looked on aˆ¦ with the same tolerant amusement that marked his full attitude toward Clare ” ( 79 ) . Because of this, Irene frequently wondered “ what did it intend? [ and ] how it would impact her and the male childs? ” ( 93 ) and frequently feared that “ aˆ¦ she did n’t count, she was, to him, merely the female parent of his boies aˆ¦ [ and that ] aˆ¦ she was nil. Worse. An obstruction ” ( 93 ) . Regardless of Irene ‘s grounds, her ideas were steady turning darker, often oppugning “ if Clare should decease! Then – Oh, it was vile! To believe, yes, to wish that! ” ( 101 ) . During the confrontation at the terminal of the novel, Clare Smiled a “ aˆ¦ smiling that maddened Irene. She ran across the room, her panic fringed with fierceness, and laid a manus on manus on her Clare ‘s bare arm. [ and that ] “ She could n’t hold her free ” ( 111 ) . This quotation mark showed Irene ‘s finding and despair for Clare ‘s disappearing, yet even though she acted in this slaying, she stated that “ it was an accident, a awful accident aˆ¦ [ that ] it was. ” This phrase confirms Irene ‘s guilt in this homicide, by the act of denying any mistake, solidifies her as the premier suspect in Clare ‘s slaying.

Even though there is significant grounds the other character had a manus in Clare ‘s decease, she has shown a instead unpredictable and melancholic province of head ; such a province of head could take to irrational ideas such as self-destruction. She passed for white and abandoned her black heritage for pecuniary value ; she believes that “ in fact, all things considered, I think ‘Rene, that it ‘s even deserving the monetary value ” ( 28 ) . Yet Clare feels trapped by her hubby, John Bellow ‘s, racist positions ; even though she is black herself, John believes Clare to be white. He has made it clear that he “ aˆ¦ [ drew ] the line at that. No niggas in my household. Never have been and ne’er will be ” ( 40 ) . Despite the fact that she is in such a unstable place, she sought to be with Irene with foolhardy forsaking “ aˆ¦ to acquire the things I want severely plenty, I ‘d make anything, hurt anybody, throw anything off ” ( 81 ) . Clare continues to see Irene, bespeaking to attach to Irene to her assorted societal parties and through her, to the black portion of society that Clare abandoned long ago. Yet she “ aˆ¦ would if I could, but I ca n’t aˆ¦ you ca n’t recognize how I want to see Negros, to be with them once more, to speak with them, to hear them laugh ” ( 71 ) . All of these lead to a volatile mixture of foolhardiness, despair, loss of individuality, and a sense of being trapped. These could hold lead to her eventual self-destruction, when John Bellow discovered and confronted her about her race:

Clare stood at the window, every bit composed as if everyone were non gazing at her in wonder and admiration, as if the whole construction of her life were non lying in fragments before her. She seemed incognizant of any danger or uncaring. There was even a swoon smiling on her full, ruddy lips, and in her shining eyes. ( 111 )

This quotation mark exemplifies Clare ‘s increasing sense of withdrawal from the universe around her ; when she was confronted by her hubby at the terminal of the novel, she felt trapped and take to get away instead the face the world of her state of affairs.

Yet all of this is simply guess. The motivations and ideas of Clare Kendry are unknown and can merely be interpreted through Irene ‘s perceptual experience of Clare ‘s actions. On the other manus, Irene ‘s mental procedure it frequently displayed through her ain narratives and has show on legion occasions to hold entertained the thought of fring herself of Clare.