Relationships in Passing

In the novel Passing, Clare and her husband, John Bellew, have a very weird marriage. John comes in and sits down with his wife and rest of the ladies. He opens up by giving his wife an inappropriate nickname for her which kind of makes it awkward for the other girls. He explains his disgust with African Americans by saying ¨I don’t dislike them, I hate them. And so does Clare, for all she’s trying to turn me into one¨(202). His opinion of all African Americans wrong and he tries to convey it in a cleaver manner to the ladies. It is weird me that Clare is willing to stay with her racist husband in order to pass but to also erase her native roots and pass as white. Irene seems to be angry as the conversation goes on with the husband saying he hates black people “ in Irene’s, rage did not retreat, but she was held by some dam of caution and allegiance to Clare”(41) Irene could’ve imploded and exposed Clare for what she is but she decides not to because she might feel bad for Clare.

The marriage between Gertrude and her husband is very different compared to Clare’s. Fred Martin is fully aware of his wife’s true ethnic roots. There is another contrast that Clare seems to be more worried about her safety and her child’s safety by saying “ I nearly died in terror the whole nine months before Margery, afraid she might become dark”(36) she said this because her husband doesn’t know that she is African American and she is afraid what will happen to her and he baby if her were to find out. While Gertrude is at ease because her husband knows that she is African American. Another comparison is that Clare has a more young and splendid complexion as oppose to Gertrude because her complexion seems intense.