Identity and Women's Experience - Essay Example

“Quicksand”, Identity and Women's Experience Thesis ment The thesis explores how issues related to race,and gender intersect to help shape Crane’s struggle towards attaining autonomy and social stability in the 20th century (French and Allyson 457). It shows how class, race, and gender connect by paralleling the plight of Quicksand as a protagonist in the definition of racial identity while struggling to attain sexual autonomy. The thesis makes a conclusion that the failure by Helga to achieve autonomy indicates that the novel critiques misogyny and racism within the society. The thesis also tries to compare the work with a similar novel by Larsen which is more or less of the same concept. It then concludes by taking into consideration the criticism in both novels. The thesis shows how both novels portray female characters in three dimensions: they are original, capable of independence, and have a common tragic fate. Class, Race, and Gender in “Quicksand” “Quicksand” explores the ways women’s identities are represented through the struggle of Helga to find her place in the contemporary society. She struggles against sexual objectification and exploitation. Through Helga’s fight for sexual autonomy, the book illustrates two stereotypes of African American females which prevail throughout the literature. The novel depicts limitations of stereotypes held across Europe and the United States. The stereotypes’ pervasiveness is conveyed via constant change of settings. For instance, it criticizes reactionary stereotypes that treated sex with reticence and caution to counterbalance literary and social myths about sexuality of the black women. Helga flees and faces assimilationism and school internalized racism. In Harlem, the novel exposes how the white culture exploits the culture of African American. Helga flees again as she fears sexual objectification. She moves to Denmark where exploitation is still evident as Helga is treated as a sex object. Consequently, she rejects this society and returns to Harlem. Limiting the options, “Quicksand” shows both stereotypes restrictiveness and denial of women’s sexual autonomy. The novel uses stereotypes of African American women to make comments on movements that oppose Harlem Renaissance. The stereotypes were shaped and established by African females in the US (French and Allyson 453). Women who were enslaved were denied their humanity and stripped off their race due to lack of autonomy. The rape legacy contributed to the ruthless exploitation female slaves, which totally deprived African American women of their sexuality. “Quicksand” connects the dehumanization and exploitation of black women’s sexuality with objectification and exploitation of African American women in the culture of Harlem renaissance. In the primitivism of e Harlem Renaissance, one can see that the USA denied African Americans their identity via enslavement. Celebration of African roots is emphasized as a way differ The Afro-Americans displayed as uncorrupted have become a metaphor. The novel illustrates the prevalence of stereotypes via Helga’s internalizing them. She rates her intelligence to be different from African American race. For instance, Helga while in Harlem viewed the patrons of African American descent as jungle creatures. Helga felt that being white separated her from the situation of distorted childishness (Nella 59). This novel contests this setting’s unreality and illustrates the cabaret situation in the context of a broader society. Trying to adjust to the life in Harlem, Helga learns that she is an outsider and she is keen of the whites’ dominance which has an intention of intruding cabaret scene. This situation plays out the fear in Helga by personification of the taxi cabs like cabaret dancers, displaying their movements (58). Helga fears that primitive cabaret is in low esteem in the society of the white. Otherwise, they will not pay attention to the African American, which will lead to misinterpretation by the culture that is dominant. The alienation of Helga shows that she is isolated from the primitive culture. Recognition of Helga’s exploitation and objectification turns to be more apparent the moment she observes Olsen’s portrait. In Olsen’s painting, she cannot recognize herself but a creature having her features (89). She essentially views the perception of the white race that demeans her to a sensual desire object. Similar to how an audience in a theatre celebrates performance by racists, the painting shows a society that embraces and perceives blackness to be uniquely aesthetic. Helga’s leaving is based on longing for Negroes and not Americans (92). The return of Helga shows that she has control over herself and sexuality. “Quicksand” portrays two forms of stereotypes that create limitation to Helga to offer her protagonists two options: either to return to Copenhagen, or explore the path from which she strayed (106). Helga fears start when she learns that her stand on sexuality opposes the common stereotype. “Quicksand” connects African American suppression of sexuality of women with assimilation. The novel displays this call as opting to fit white society ideals. Helga faces racism which is approved in schools for the white. If the African American would borrow a leaf from Naxos’s book, racism problems would not arise as they will know what is expected of them (2-3). So, the solution to the race issue is elimination of identity of African American. Contemptuous disinterest by Helga displays her limitation as seen in the institution (98). Helga’s main desire is to have independence that would be blown away if she married. She rejects men as she is afraid to lose control of her sexuality. “Quicksand” and “Passing” Novels Another literature piece of work that is close to Quicksand is “Passing”, and, therefore, a contrast and comparison of the two will be done. Both novels have been written by Larsen. Studying keenly, tragic fate of Larsen’s characters does not deny both novels’ position against representation of stereotypes of African American women in the literal tradition of the Americans. Failures of the characters to succeed in their various societies do not reflect failure of the novels in the creation of characters that resist submission or objectification. Helga’s awareness of exploitation and repression lifts her high above the African American females. In “Quicksand”, there is no clear endorsement of Helga fate. Towards the final stages of this novel, a narration of the inner monolog of Helga gives voice to the victims of the dominating culture of the white men. If Helga had found a community that could embrace her, it would undermine stereotypes and ideologies that oppress the society comprised of Afro-American women. Likewise, there is no endorsement of Clare’s death in “Passing”. As much as there is a possibility of Irene killing Clare in the texts, the murder would be an aftermath of racism. However, her death was due to the intrusion of Bellew in the party. The fate of Irene is somehow ambiguous. Towards the novel’s last lines, Irene’s fainting is described as drowning, which is parallel to that of Helga’s sinking to death. She sank down and moaned again. The Irene’s fainting imagery is a symbol of death. Irene being raised up high by an arm is a sign of hope. As, according to the text, there is a possibility that she will rise up, it means that she will not do that by herself. This will take place only if she is in a state of unconsciousness and not by her own. Despite the fact that Irene does not pass on like Helga, the possibility of her survival does not depend on her. Lastly, this paper displays that both novels defy how a woman of African American descent is represented by pointing out females with autonomy capability while criticizing the society which is accountable for stripping them of their race and decency. Works Cited French, Katherine L. and Allyson M Poska. Women & Gender in the Western Past. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007. Print. Nella, Larsen. Quicksand . New York: Penguin Classics, 1928. Print. Read More