Caught Between Two Allegiances: Examining Passing and Identity Through Nella Larson and Ernest Cline

Abstract

Passing by Nella Larsen, set in the 1920s, and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, set in the future year 2045, tell stories of African American women passing for white. They live in worlds where they can’t share their true selves with anyone: Clare (Passing) lives in fear of her racist white husband discovering she is biracial, and Helen’s mother (Ready Player One) makes her create a white male avatar in the virtual world OASIS. This paper will examine these characters to draw out the distinctions between passing – people living differently from who they are because it is more advantageous or even safer to do so – and identifying – taking on a persona and feeling more comfortable in it. Helen is only passing as a means of survival in her virtual world, while Claire is also surviving, but in some ways, has adopted her white life. Passing takes place in a time when African American’s were not considered equal to whites. Clare goes to live with the white side of her family and is exposed to the privileges that white Americans receive. This, along with her racist husband, make her trapped in this life. Helen, while in the future, deals with many of the struggles African Americans and women have today. Playing Halliday’s game and her mother making it clear that white men have it easier, Helen had no choice but to adopt this life. Stories like these can lead to acceptance and help people who feel trapped like these characters.