『패싱』에 나타나는 흑인 여성 담론 재생산과 실패한 욕망의 주체성
Reproducing Black Womanhood and Failed Subjectivity on Desire in Nella Larsen’s Passing
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The aim of this paper is to explore Nella Larsen’s novel, Passing, with the notion of patriarchy, black womanhood, and homosexual desire. Irene Redfield pursues the value of patriarchal system but feels a desire for her friend Clare Kendry. As a mulatto woman who has internalized the value of the male-centered patriarchal system and who is attracted to the beauty of whiteness, Irene denies other values or systems in order to protect the system of patriarch. For Irene, Clare is a risk which can bring the deconstruction of her family and raise a homosexual desire in Irene. To eliminate Clare, Irene, who is obsessed about keeping her family, reproduces the black womanhood and applies the negative black mistress image to Clare. In this process, Irene only recognizes Clare as a woman, an object of desire from a male-centered perspective. As Irene perceives Clare as an object, she fails to claim her subjectivity in her homosexual desire. This is eventually what prevents her from escaping the patriarchal system. By analyzing Irene’s way of reproducing the black womanhood and objectifying Clare, this paper will read Irene as a conspirator who strengthens the racial and sexual discourse with a white- male-centered perspective.
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to explore Nella Larsen’s novel, Passing, with the notion of patriarchy, black womanhood, and homosexual desire. Irene Redfield pursues the value of patriarchal system but feels a desire for her friend Clare Kendry. As a mulatto woman who has internalized the value of the male-centered patriarchal system and who is attracted to the beauty of whiteness, Irene denies other values or systems in order to protect the system of patriarch. For Irene, Clare is a risk which can bring the deconstruction of her family and raise a homosexual desire in Irene. To eliminate Clare, Irene, who is obsessed about keeping her family, reproduces the black womanhood and applies the negative black mistress image to Clare. In this process, Irene only recognizes Clare as a woman, an object of desire from a male-centered perspective. As Irene perceives Clare as an object, she fails to claim her subjectivity in her homosexual desire. This is eventually what prevents her from escaping the patriarchal system. By analyzing Irene’s way of reproducing the black womanhood and objectifying Clare, this paper will read Irene as a conspirator who strengthens the racial and sexual discourse with a white- male-centered perspective.
참고문헌 (13)
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