The Unconscious in Nella Larsen's "Passing" Anonymous College

Nella Larsen’s renowned novel Passing was written shortly after a period of significant breakthroughs in psychological research and in how we view human behavior. Sigmund Freud was the man who introduced these novel and revolutionary ideas, bringing up the notion of the human conscious and unconscious. It was proposed that the human unconscious is at work and rules an individual's behavior without the person being able to control it. Through the use of the character Irene, and through Larsen’s modernist writing style, the novel is able to support this notion of the unconscious ruling the mind without having jurisdiction over one’s own thoughts and actions, In fact, Passing proceeds by taking the reader on a journey through Irene’s internal psychological drama.

The novel is centered around the protagonist, Irene, and on precisely what goes on in her mind, allowing us to see the instances when Irene’s true feelings and desires emerge, even though she has no idea why. Often, her unconscious is repressing feelings of desire for her friend Clare, making her question herself and her marriage. Irene tries so hard to distance herself from Clare, but always gives in to Clare’s attempts to solidify their social and personal connection....