After closely reading Diego A. Millan’s article “Intimacy and Laughter in Nella Larsen’s Passing,” please complete to following assignment.
Note that when you submit your comment, you will no longer be able to see it. I am hiding your responses from one another this week to encourage you to think through Millan’s article independently before we talk about it together in class.
Your response should be two full paragraphs in length.
Your first paragraph will be an overview of the article and the argument Millan makes. Specifically, please summarize in your own words Millan’s thesis statement. Additionally, provide an overview of the major points Millan makes throughout the article to support this thesis. You might also consider the kinds of sources Millan uses.
In your second paragraph, comment on whether or not you were convinced by his argument. If so, state specifically what about it was so convincing to you. For example, was there something specific about his analysis of the novel itself that you found compelling? Or were you struck by his attention to the novel’s historical and cultural context? Something else? If you were not so convinced, why not? What about the argument didn’t work for you? Is there something specific from the novel that refutes any of Millan’s claims, in your opinion?
Submit your response by Tuesday, 4/12, @ 2:00 PM.
The basic argument of Millan’s article is that laughter “disrupts” the usual categories of identity for black women (such as over-sexed, submissive, etc) and allows for a new space of intimacy between them. Laughter is not necessarily social resistance. Nor does it represent a “transgression” as many other critics believe. Millan uses the critical conversation to either back up or refute his claims. He also gives the context of the time period, which was during the Harlem Renaissance and at the same time, Jim Crow. He then goes on to examine how the various forms of laughter portray each woman’s relationship to desire, and calls into question ideas of black “primitivism.” But laughter cannot be reduced to sexual desire. Laughter is its own way of passing because it can also hide and keep things secret; it is a code of its own that is safe from prying (white) eyes. Millan goes on to say that yes, these women may have lesbian tendencies but that their laughter has to be considered in a larger sphere, within black/female identity, performance in order to pass and fit in, and exchange—going back and forth with various signals and movements in an intimate space. Laughter is a means of liberation in “Passing.”
Overall, this author’s style annoyed me and as such I was not convinced of his argument. He uses too much jargon that I had to look up (“static identity categories,” “normative ideologies,” “liminality”). Good writing should be simpler. Also he was squeezing blood out of a stone. This book is so compact and there is not much extra to it. He is harping on a point which I do not think is worth twenty pages; he seems to be padding his argument with way too much reference to other critics, context, and social commentary. I also disagree with his idea that the two women are so different. I see them as mirror images of each other, or opposite sides of the same coin. His argument would have been less heavy-handed if he had opened it up to other related issues, perhaps like sound and vision, and relied less on all the other critics and social contexts. I liked the idea of laughter and expected more from the title.
I totally agree with your point of his language being overly complex!! Good writing should definitely be more accessible in language and his writing seemed dense with unnecessary complex words.. but your understanding of his paper is great and helped my understanding so thank you!!
The basic argument of Millan’s article is that laughter “disrupts” the usual categories of identity for black women (such as over-sexed, submissive, etc.) and allows for a new space of intimacy between them. Laughter is not necessarily social resistance. Nor does it represent a “transgression” as many other critics believe. Millan uses the critical conversation to either back up or refute his claims. He also gives the context of the time period, which was during the Harlem Renaissance and at the same time, Jim Crow. He then goes on to examine how the various forms of laughter portray each woman’s relationship to desire, and calls into question ideas of black “primitivism.” But laughter cannot be reduced to sexual desire. Laughter is its own way of passing because it can also hide and keep things secret; it is a code of its own that is safe from prying (white) eyes. Millan goes on to say that yes, these women may have lesbian tendencies but that their laughter has to be considered in a larger sphere, within black/female identity, performance in order to pass and fit in, and exchange—going back and forth with various signals and movements in an intimate space. Laughter is a means of liberation in “Passing.”
Overall, this author’s style annoyed me and as such I was not convinced of his argument. He uses too much jargon that I had to look up (“static identity categories,” “normative ideologies,” “liminality”). Good writing should be simpler. Also he was squeezing blood out of a stone. This book is so compact and there is not much extra to it. He is harping on a point which I do not think is worth twenty pages; he seems to be padding his argument with way too much reference to other critics, context, and social commentary. I also disagree with his idea that the two women are so different. I see them as mirror images of each other, or opposite sides of the same coin. His argument would have been less heavy-handed if he had opened it up to other related issues, perhaps like sound and vision, and relied less on all the other critics and social contexts. I liked the idea of laughter and expected more from the title.
Millan takes Larsen’s use of laughter in her novel and claims that it is the primary way in which we see the character’s true identities, feelings, and desires. Millan starts the article by analyzing how laughter could be seen as an expression of one’s true identity. Identity is a major theme in passing, Clare’s identity is recognized by Irene not through voice or appearance, but through laughter at the beginning of the story. Millan references an article by Mike Chasar on Harlem renaissance poetry to describe this kind of laughter as “combative rather than humorous”. The term combative is most likely used because it exposes one’s true self, which is the opposite of passing. Moving forward, Millan focuses on Irene and Clare’s encounter at the Drayton, particularly from a psychological perspective. Millan claims that Irene’s gentle laugh is able to make her feel at ease when she notices Clare staring at her, which she assumes is because she notices that Irene is pretending to be white. Meanwhile, Millan focuses on the description of Clare’s laugh that allows her to be recognized by Irene. The characterization of her laugh seemingly embodies Claire’s characteristics, as well as contrasts her personality with Irene’s. This supports the author’s claim that laughter embodies identity in this novel. Further on, Millan also connects laughter with desire, noting several instances where Irene’s focus on Clare’s laughter and her source of laughter, her mouth, have implied that Irene has feelings for Clare.
After reading Millan’s argument, I am now convinced that laughter is one of, if not the most important lens through which their characters can be viewed in their purest forms. For example, when reading, the relationship between Clare and Irene always confused me. If Irene didn’t like the way Clare acted, why did she put up with it for so long? Why did she never confront her husband about his suspected cheating? Why did her mood change so often around Clare? These answers can be connected to the theme of laughter. As Millan mentioned, the romance between Clare and Irene is never explicitly stated, but with the use of laughter, Larsen creates a hidden relationship between the two that could explain why Irene never really confronted her husband about Clare, or why she could never stay mad at Clare despite everything she’s done to annoy her. By connecting laughter with the release of repressed impulses, Millan allows several important scenes and interactions in the story to be viewed in a different way, making the story easier to interpret for me.
Millan’s essay explains how the different types of laughter reflect Irene’s and Clare’s desire for intimacy. The novel uses these themes to portray the intimacies between women and a women’s intimacy with herself. Millan emphasizes how Du Bois’s idea of double consciousness is developed through Irene’s perception of Clare’s stare and her own experience of being observed by Clare. Laughter can be interpreted as a metaphor for sexual desires but also as a way for the characters to express the fulfillment of their desires. In addition, Millan points out the differences in each character’s way of laughing as well as the importance of laughter and “unlaughter.” The sources that Millan uses are secondary sources that analyze Passing and related historical context.
I agree with Millan’s argument because throughout the novel there is a significance behind each laughter thus, a result of Clare and Irene’s desire to be intimate. Something that I found compelling in this analysis is how Clare’s mouth is a symbol of the desire for intimacy: “Clare’s mouth in Passing garners much of Irene’s attention and has been identified by critics as an object for her desire. It is hard to miss the erotic undertones of Irene’s Petrarchan descriptions of Clares ‘tempting mouth’” (113). When talking to Clare, Irene focuses on Clare’s beauty and often adds sexual connotations when describing her. There was always a sense of flirting when Irene and Clare would have a conversation. Despite Irene’s wish to cut ties with Clare, there is a sexual allure that holds her back.
The article by Diego A. Milan, “Intimacy and Laughter in Nella Larson’s Passing” delves into the importance of laughter as a choice of recognition and provides a perhaps intimate undertone between the women in the novel. Milan describes the historical importance of laughter by describing how it was used by notable Black writers such as Claude McKay and Langston Hughes as a form of resistance to express concerns of society. However, Milan seems to assert that laughter is playing a larger role in Passing, defining the relationship between Claire and Irene. Laughter shows us what Irene thinks of Claire right from their meeting at the Drayton, one of possible obsession. Milan further emphasizes this with various sources from academic readings of Passing and analyses. Milan also describes possibly sexual infatuation from Irene regarding Claire which is revealed by this laughter.
While reading this analysis of Passing through the lens of laughter, I was drawn to this overall argument that laughter reveals Irene’s inner thoughts of Claire. We have mentioned previously that Irene seems to have an obsession over Claire, constantly mentioning her lips, and this essay also reveals that she mentions her laughter quite a bit as well. The idea that you can pick someone out by their laughter means a lot about your relationship with that person. This is very well articulated by Milan in this article, and I found his argument regarding this to be quite persuasive. I also liked Milan’s analysis of Bellew’s laughter along with the three women. Bellew’s joke is quite crude and remarkably racist, but all three women laugh as a means to pass. The joke made by Bellew would not only affirm whether the women are “white” but allow him to be under the premonition that he is superior to these women. The choice of the women laughing is most likely caused by a subconscious recognition of this which, Milan, and subsequently me, find to be purposeful by Larsen. All in all, I found this article to be quite persuasive, providing insight about the novel through a lens that I never saw previously.
In Diego A. Millan’s article, Intimacy and Laughter in Nella Larson’s Passing, Millan demonstrates the recognition in relation with laughter and intimacy between women in the novel. Millan examine historical context and give examples from the Harlem Renaissance and Jim Crow. In addition, demonstrates how laughter was used by the Black writers like, Claude McKay, Sterling Brown, and Langston Hughes. Millan use these historical contexts to describe the use of laughter and relating it to Passing. The main argument here in Millan’s article is how different laughter reflect on the identity for black women and intimacy between the black women.
After reading Diego A. Millan’s article, I agree with Millan’s argument. Behind every laughter that was present in Passing there is always some significance. Through laughter I can see a different form of the character. For instance, while reading the novel I was confused about the relationship between Irene and Clare, but after understanding laughter it’s easier to understand their relationship. Something in the article that is compelling is where “The more dangerous… story of Irene’s awakening sexual desire for Clare.” (112). When stating this quote it demonstrates Irene’s sexual desire is awakened towards Clare, where reflects the two women’s intimacy.
The argument that Millan makes within this article would be that the laughter within “Passing” has many ways of being interpreted. There is no solid way of interpreting the laughter within Passing due to the fact that there would be vagueness associated with the instances of laughter. Part I would focus on the idea that laughter is associated with resistance. In order to do so, Millan connects Black culture with the various ways in which laughter can be associated. Part II focuses on the various interpretations of how Irene submits to Clare’s laughter. Part III analyzes the symbolism associated with laughter, as well as the mouth that the laughter comes out of. Part IV focuses on Bellew’s laughter, as well as the issues/ideas that are associated with it. Part V restates the argument and restates various aspects of the previous parts.
I was convinced by Millan’s argument in his article. Millan brings up a very good point that various aspects pertaining to laughter are vague, leaving it difficult to analyze or have a definite way of interpreting laughter. One quote that stood out for me would be “The difference between a derisive snort and a reflexive giggle – and Irene’s inability to distinguish between the two – signals the difficulty of interpreting laughter.” Millan’s point about different outcomes and possibilities raises the idea that there is more than 1 way to analyze laughter. From Millan’s argument, I also believe that there are other ways to analyze other aspects of Passing. Another aspect that convinced me would be how Millan connected culture to laughter. The quote that stood out to me for this point would be “with a rich tradition of humor that, instead of diminishing the dangers and perniciousness of racism, highlights them… laughter produced by post-soul Black comic personae… changed from a “muted” marker of articulated suffering to “howling” against subjugation.”
It seems like the author is arguing that Larsen uses “humor” in conjunction with racism in order to convey a point about the realities of black women. Hence, the use of “laughter” in their essay. The author cites Mike Chasar for explaining “combative laughter or humor” rather than the usual conventional kind of humor we’re all used to. They insinuate that the laughter they use is one that is “used to combat the white society that controls the public space” and lay bare on the oppressive structures put forth by systematic racism.
I’ll admit, at first, I did think this was a bit of a stretch. In the poems I read that were written by Claude Mckay and Langston Hughes always seemed more revolutionary in the usual conventional way rather than in a “humorous” way. However, when the author cited Carpio’s “Laughing Fit to Kill”, I thought it slowly started to make more sense. Once I read the poem, I did notice that Carpio would juxtapose the social critique they enabled. In a sense, Carpio is using “laughter” as a way to combat the oppressive society put forth by the white public space.
Diego A. Milllan writes the essay “Intimacy and Laughter in Nella Larsen’s Passing” explaining the importance of the laughters in this book and also the meaning behind them by adding on the historical context and its story of how black women express their identity. Millan starts off the essay to introduce us to what caught his attention in the book to write this essay about intimacy and laughter. He believes that although it was not mentioned often for Irene to recognize Clare just by her laughs and even-though she is used to recognizing others by their appearance or voice and tone, Irene was able to recognize Clare by her laughters. Millan argues that the fact that they are using laughters to recognize Clare means that there is some sort of intamacy between the woman. He adds on that laughter is connect to identity as it is to race and sexuality. Some of the main points that Millan involves in this article are the fact that the decision to examine laughter is surrounded by the ways in which humor has acted as a mode of resistance in a white societies. He also explains how not everyone has laughs in the same sense, where some characters may use humor they think its appropriate some do not agree with this. Laughters can also be used to pass on the conversation and move on and misdirection. He also adds on that it can be used to hide ones true feelings, as he gives an example of Clare laughing while hiding her hurt feelings .
I think I was convinced as we have also mentioned about this topic in class. It talked about the characters identities, whether it had to do with race or sexuality, the meaning behind laughters and many more to fully explain the meanings behind laughters. I think to be convinced about something means that they used many instances where you could have hinted something was happening and they fully explained that which I think that Millan fulfilled. I also like his use of historical and cultural context as it is very important on the story. He explained those in a way that you would understand more about the past and also make you have a different view on how laughters and humor are seen and used.
In the scholarly article written by Diego A. Milan, there is an argument about specifically the idea of laughter. The argument proposes that laughter and humor plays a significant role in black cultural expression in that it serves as a form of resistance and standing ones ground on political/civil rights in a white supremacist society. In addition Milan also argues that laughter creates a space of intimacy among women. In the novel we see this laughter become present many times, often overlooking its meaning and significance. Some of the more prominent points Milan points out in his writing is the mention of Irene’s recognition of Clare through her laughter; this is important because it’s the beginning of the idea that Larson creates a question about what this recognition element of laughter say about identity in this novel, which one of the central themes is identity. Milan refers to a lot of sources, for instance Mike Chasar and his article on Harlem Renaissance poetry, Freud’s relief theory of laughter etc.
I personally have not been convinced by Diego A. Milan’s argument, I had agreed with him to some extent for instance in his description of the first scene in the novel when Irene meets Clare but his argument I couldn’t apply it to my preconceived notion of the novel after reading it. Laughter creating a space for intimacy among women was the one I had trouble with the most. I couldn’t really see how exactly this applied to the novel. Milan referred to a lot of sources and I often lost focus on his argument and focused on what exactly the sources were analyzing. I feel like the ending of the novel counteracts the argument of Milan, Irene committing murder was a turning point and I don’t really see how relevant a space of intimacy took the characters to new interpretations. I mostly saw Irene grow jealous of Clare.
Throughout the article, Milan is trying to prove that the use of laughter by Nella Larsen in “Passing” is used to “trouble static categories” and creates room for the women in the book to become close. He uses multiple examples from the book to prove this. He brings up the example of when Clare and Irene meet and the way they smile at each other and are friendly without even knowing who the other person is. He says “It is this slight uncertainty that generates a moment and space for intimacy without surrendering it entirely to a reader.” Another example, is when he talks about how laughter bridges the gap between the out-going Clare and the more quiet Irene. The laughter essentially gives the two a common ground to bond over. In addition, there is the idea that laughter expresses passion in the book, and that the two’s laughter expresses some sort of suppressed sexual desire. These are all very intriguing points Diego uses, but are they reasonable is what is at question here?
Personally, I can believe the ideas that laughter gives the two common ground and that laughter can ease tensions between two people. Without even looking at the book you can use basic psychology or social experience to understand that, that is a reasonable claim. In addition, I can definitely agree with that because in the book it says
“The woman laughed, a lovely laugh, a small sequence of notes that was like a trill and also like the ringing of a delicate bell fashioned of a precious metal, a tinkling. /
Irene drew a quick sharp breath. “Clare!” she exclaimed. Not really Clare Kendry?”
This comes after they smiled at each other, unsure if they actually knew each other, despite the familiarity. It’s that smile, the laughter, that let Irene relax in that moment and calm down, only to realize that the woman is indeed Clare. That’s a very convincing point Milan has in my opinion. However, the idea that laughter represents suppressed sexual desire is hard for my to believe despite Irene’s fixation on Clare’s physical attractiveness. This is because in the final paragraph of chapter 2 part 4 Irene and Clare argue and Irene says “I don’t believe it. In the first place what you’re saying is so utterly, so wickedly wrong. And as for your giving up things—”. This entire line is more than enough for me to not believe this claim because it shows that there is an underlying resentment that Irene has for Clare. For both there to be a resentment and a sexual desire, seems extremely conflicting to me for there to be both. This is why I semi-agree with Milan, but not fully.
The article discusses how laughter shapes the novel throughout the story based on theories or ideas from other historians, authors, and philosophers such as W.E.B Dubois and Samira Kawash. More specifically, he argues about how laughter shapes primitivism in the novel. For example, through the use of Freud’s theory of laughter, Irene does not let go of her thought that she assumed she could tell that she was an African American until she lets out a small laughter which signifies relief in this context. This is an example of Diego Millan’s idea that he emphasizes that there can be different interpretations of laughter when reading novels since it can be misinterpreted based on your limited definition of laughter. Another example of the idea is that he uses Dubois’s double consciousness theory that is based on the idea that Africans Americans and people of color often have to be extra cautious with their surroundings. A specific example from the novel is that once Irene hears their exchange of laughter, it allows a moment of intimacy, which can be interpreted in different ways depending on the reader.
After reading the article, I am convinced by the majority of the points given in his argument. What convinced me was how he surrounds the essay on the idea of primitivism, where black people are stereotyped to look and act a certain way. Since white people have a certain idea of how African Americans should look and act, there are ways for them to pass in a way that white people cannot tell. He says that through laughter, African Americans can identify other passing African Americans. In the novel, Passing, Irene recognizes and associates Clare to her laughter rather than her appearance because it’s implied that she knows that there is a characteristic that Clare cannot hide from Irene and other African Americans to pass as a white woman. The role of laughter in Passing through the idea of primitivism explains Irene’s and Clare’s relationship clearly through his theories Diego Millan refers to.
The article discusses how laughter shapes the novel throughout the story based on theories or ideas from other historians, authors, and philosophers such as W.E.B Dubois and Samira Kawash. More specifically, he argues about how laughter shapes primitivism in the novel. For example, through the use of Freud’s theory of laughter, Irene does not let go of her thought that she assumed she could tell that she was an African American until she lets out a small laughter which signifies relief in this context. This is an example of Diego Millan’s idea that he emphasizes that there can be different interpretations of laughter when reading novels since it can be misinterpreted based on your limited definition of laughter. Another example of the idea is that he uses Dubois’s double consciousness theory that is based on the idea that Africans Americans and people of color often have to be extra cautious with their surroundings. A specific example from the novel is that once Irene hears their exchange of laughter, it allows a moment of intimacy, which can be interpreted in different ways depending on the reader.
After reading the article, I am convinced by the majority of the points given in his argument. What convinced me was how he surrounds the essay on the idea of primitivism, where black people are stereotyped to look and act a certain way. Since white people have a certain idea of how African Americans should look and act, there are ways for them to pass in a way that white people cannot tell. He says that through laughter, African Americans can identify with other passing African Americans. In the novel, Passing, Irene recognizes and associates Clare with her laughter rather than her appearance because it’s implied that she knows that there is a characteristic that Clare cannot hide from Irene and other African Americans to pass as a white woman. The role of laughter in Passing through the idea of primitivism explains Irene’s and Clare’s relationship clearly through the theories Diego Millan refers to.
Note: My other comment looks like it’s one paragraph and I indented between paragraphs to try to show that it is two paragraphs.
The author argues that laughter could help us better understand the relationship between Irene and Clare. It could also help us understand the character’s thoughts on racism and oppression. The main points that the author makes is laughing could reveal the sexual desires and intimacy between Irene and Clare. Laughter could be a way to resist against racism and oppression. He argues that laughter also serves as a mode of resistance and redress in a white supremacist society. Laughter could also represent repressed desires that are shown in the different ways that the characters in Passing laugh.
Millan’s argument was interesting and did convince me. When he points out the possibility of a sexual attraction between Irene and Clare it interested me because he points out that Irene would always focus on Clare’s lips and describe her in a sexual way. Another argument that Millian makes is Clare laughs loudly because she feels secure while Irene laughs quietly because she is a middle-class black person. I am also convinced that laughter may be a way of going against racism. When the author says that laughter could also represent repressed desires, those repressed desires could be Irene’s having feelings for Clare. Irene may not be comfortable with her own sexuality, for example when she found out her kids were learning sex jokes, she immediately shuts it down.
Diego Millan’s article “Intimacy and Laughter in Nella Larsen’s Passing,” talks about, from Diego’s perspective, two very prominent concepts present within the story: The idea of laughter and the undertones of desire Irene has for Clare. In essence, Miller argues that the relationship between Clare and Irene is most emphasized by the idea of laughter. Most of the article generally talks about the forms of laughter and how they occupy their respective spaces and the subversive nature of such laughter. Furthermore, the idea of laughter in regards to intimacy is also something that is explored, specifically in part three. Miller makes note about how the laughter can be associated with desire, especially when related to race. When placed in this view, laughter can be shown to display the way in which race corresponds with specific attitudes, and how “whiteness” in this situation shows how black people operating in white spaces need to limit themselves, as an apparent way to meet the expectations of those who view themselves of superior.
All in all, I’d say that the article, as much as it was insightful, has many aspects which irritated me and put me off of reading it. Although I view the aspect of laughter as something that is interesting and something that is present in the novel to the extent that it cannot be ignored, I do find the name dropping of people like “Freud,” “du Bois,” and many such thinkers to be very infuriating. Not withstanding that it makes the author feel pretentious, it also makes for an apparent lack of conciseness. Metacontextual aspects notwithstanding, I think a more convincing case could be made, not necessarily in terms of the significance of laughter, but the tension developed between Clare and Irene due to the societies they inhabit. As much as Irene and Clare are passing, Clare, as becoming part of white society, is someone who now acts as spectator to black society, and I think this is particularly pertinent when she insists that Irene invite her to the Negro Welfare League dance. Clare says “I would if I could, but I can’t. You don’t know, you can’t realize how I want to see Negroes, to be with them again, to talk with them, to hear them laugh” (Larsen 111) The idea of laughter here signifies the way in which she misses the liveliness of black society, and furthermore, the in which, by her spectator status, she is limited by the way in which she can interact with her own kind. This proves as an opportunity for her to be around people she is more in connection with, rather than the oppressors whom she has realized her role as a mother in.
The author makes the claim that the action or mention of laughter in “Passing” is significant to the plot and relates to the themes of belonging and intimacy (Milan,112). Milan argues throughout the essay that all of the laughter found in the novel symbolizes something than other just humor. The first argument is laughter can be used as a combative and is a form of resistance against the oppression faced by African Americans. The author provides other sources such as Chasar’s article on Harlem Renaissance writing in which he also views laughter in a non-comedic way along with Carpio’s explanation of using humor to highlight the racism faced by the black community. The author also argues that the laughter creates a sense of intimacy between Irene and Clare. This is shown by using quotations from the book in which laughter is shared between the two and an intimate mood is present. The author also makes a larger argument that laughter is related to a “threat of exposure” (Millan, 113) to the sexual desire Irene has for Clare. The author continues to explain that the laughter that stems from Clare’s mouth is seen in a seductive manner in the way Irene describes it. The author also relates each of the two women’s laughter to their desires. Clare is seen to laugh only “softly” which can be related to her desires for security and satisfaction.
Initially, I was completely unconvinced by Millans’s argument on laughter being of important matter in the novel because laughter is such a natural bodily function I had never really given it much thought. The idea of combative laughter is completely foreign to me, and it still was still not clear after reading. Instead of showing other authors also speaking of combative laughter, it may have been beneficial if Millan provided an example of what exactly that entails to help us better understand his application to “Passing”. I did, however, begin to understand Milan’s thought process when he began to discuss Irene’s immediate attention to Clare at the Drayton and how there were many small details that may be overlooked if not read closely enough. Milan when explaining this quotes “there rose in Irene a small inner disturbance, odious and hatefully familiar. She laughed softly, but her eyes flashed” (178). This line shows Irene’s extremely close attention to Clare which can definitely read be in an intimate way as many times people tend to pay attention to those they are attracted to. Later a quote is used referring to Clare’s laugh as “a lovely laugh, a small sequence of notes” which sounds quite romantic in a way that I had previously not noticed while reading. I agree with Milan’s claim that the story is in part about the sexual desire found between Irene and Clare, but disagree with how much of the story is about that. To me, the book was first and foremost about race relations and colorism. This was a focal point in the novel, as Clare’s passing shows the racial tensions in America and how different lives were lived based on one’s race. Reading this book while focusing more so on the sexual desires of the two women seems to take away from the equally important racial themes present in the novel. Overall, I definitely was able to see the importance of laughter in “Passing” and how Larson purposefully made characters laugh or not laugh, laugh a certain way, and notice others laughing all had a deeper meaning to the story. Milan shows this clearly with using short quotations from the play forcing the reader to look again at the specific quote allowing for a chance to analyze the quote once more.
In the article, Milan explores the connection between laughter and sexuality, desire and intimacy between women, specifically black women. Milan shows how drawn Irene was to Clare by her smile even from the first time they met showing how laughter is form of expression and connection. Milan notes how drawn Irene is to a particular part of Clare’s body, her mouth and describes it as an “object of her desire.” Milan highlights a difference between Clare’s and Irene’s laughter and shows how this reflected who they are and the characteristics they embody. He also points that Irene not laughing as much signified her “repressed desire” for Clare and in a boarder term, Black women are seen as “hypersexual and lascivious.” So, in many literary works by the black community or of black women, this emotion/desire is usually repressed. Milan also points out that Larsen uses laughter to show the difference between white and black people by using Bellew’s scene, where he made racist remarks, as an example.
I agreed with certain points made by Milan. For example, Milan mentions how passing had to do with “secrecy and concealment” and that’s why Irene was scared that she was found out while taking a break. Milan quotes Chasar who said, “this laughter ‘could go where the physical black body in many cases could not and thus could uniquely challenge white control of public spaces’” (107). I found that idea interesting because although black people weren’t allowed in certain locations, they had something to be connected by. Although, I wasn’t convinced and somewhat disagreed with the idea that Irene had a sexual desire for Clare (112). Irene admired Clare’s beauty and that can be seen numerous times as she praises Clare, but I didn’t see it as more than that. I thought it was more of comparing herself to Clare. Another Interesting point made by Milan was how the entertainment industry continued to exploit from Harlem and Black culture in general which made it seem like “the presence of black people recedes, as actual people are displaced and made into objects to be gazed upon in order to satisfy white desires for enjoyment.” (119)
Millan takes from Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry’s interaction at the Drayton Hotel’s rooftop restaurant as its inspiration. Millan attempts to answer the question about what passes between the women (Clare and Irene) in relation only let alone their laughter. He starts to analyze their intimacy between the two women and the historical context between them. Millan targets the laughter that occurs in which it correlates to African American literature. He begins to dig deeper discussing laughter in Black culture. He continues by saying how laughter is a way for humor to serve as a mode of resistance and redress in a white supremacist society.
I was convinced because black humor is a good symbol to identify social change and laughter is an important expression in the black culture. For Millan to dig deeper in this analysis gives me a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural feel for the “Passing.” I did not realize this much attention to the laughter in the novel contributes to Black society deeply and provides a deeper understanding for me. It always breaks down the relationship between Irene and Clare in their initial encounter.
When reading the article “Intimacy and Laughter in Nella Larson’s Passing” by Diego A. Millan, the main idea that revolves around the reading piece is about the role that laughter plays in the book and how it provides a sort of intimate tone and reflects the character’s wanting of intimacy through the reading. Although it was described that the laughter was shown to reflect intimacy, it was also mentioned that the laughter reenforced/defined the relationship between Irene and Claire. Another thing that was mentioned several times throughout the reading was how laughter was used throughout history by Black writers that we have previously read such as Langston Hughes. The laughter throughout the novel can be interpreted as a way to demonstrate certain desires of the characters and can even demonstrate how the characters (Irene and Claire) felt since the start. All of Millan’s points about how laughter emphasizes different aspects of the novel were also supported by the secondary sources that are shown to analyze the novel and any other readings that revolve around the novel.
After reading this academic analysis of the novel “Passing” by Nella Larson, I am towards the argument that laughter is one of the ways that Irene’s thoughts towards Claire are revealed. When reading the book, it is very noticeable that Irene seems to observe Claire’s actions a lot, in a sort of obsessive way. This article was very well written in my opinion and very persuasive due to it using secondary resources and details to back up the argument. Although at first it was a bit confusing to comprehend, after analyzing the readings and the backup evidence, I agreed with the argument that the laughter shown throughout the reading was a reflection on the intimacy shown between the characters throughout the novel.
In the essay “Intimacy and laughter in Nella Larsen’s step”, as its title indicates, the author analyzes the concept of “laughter” in the book “Passing” by Nella Larsen, as well as decodes the implications of this concept within the relationship and “intimacy” of the characters “Irene Redfield” and “Clare Kendry”. The main argument that the author of this essay, Diego A. Millan, is trying to convey is that there could be an underlying meaning in the use of laughter (as a word, but also as a code or representation of action) in this book, especially within Irene and Clara’s relationship and intimacy/sexuality. To examine this thesis, Millan takes us to understand Passing within its “historical context” of black culture in the 20th century, as well as within the implications of being a woman rediscovering issues such as identity and sexuality in a time when these terms/concepts were not yet part of the public conversation and acceptance. To illustrate his point, Millan also brings to mind other books, articles, and even sociological terms such as Du Boisian’s “double consciousness.”
From my point of view – I think Millan’s arguments are developed and presented in a way that is compelling enough for someone unfamiliar with the characters featured in Passing. Miller’s introduction into the dynamics and historical context of the 20th century places us right in the living environment of these characters – a world in which discrimination, racism and lack of acceptance were everywhere. The way Miller describes laughter within the context of each character (and the way Larsen describes them) is also quite compelling of the hidden desires of Irene and Clara’s relationship. There is, at least from the evidence shown, a certain intimacy and tenderness in the way Irene describes Clara’s laughter, laughing, and smile. In other characters, her laughter is also a representation of who they are in the context of the story, as well as who they appear to be from Irene’s point of view. Like the conversation with Brian about making sexual jokes, or the way she compared Clara’s husband’s laugh to a “roar” – hinting at his “animalistic side”. Overall, I think Miller did a good job of showing us how the “laughter” in the book Passing has as much meaning to describe situations/scenarios as it does to subtly show us the growing desire of the protagonist.
Diego A. Millan’s essay “Intimacy and Laughter in Nella Larsen’s Passing” goes into length regarding the influence of employing the action of “laughter” during the reading of “passing.” Millan describes the numerous sorts of “laughing” that occur during the reading, and how, in many circumstances, this behavior might represent the attraction that develops between the characters of Irene and Clare. Throughout the article, the author demonstrates how, sometimes, laughter might be seen as a sort of resistance or, in other words, a means of preventing an event from occurring. On the other hand, we can see how Millan refers to this sort of behavior as a form of suppressed tension release, which can also be seen as a manner that the characters employ to release whatever is upsetting them at the time. The author wishes to make it clear through this essay that the action of laughter in the interpretation of “passing” might allude to the sexual desires or sentiments that can be seen between the characters of Irene and Clare.
From my personal experience, I believe that laughter may also be a method for the characters of Irene and Clare to release a specific sort of sensation in which you can see the attraction and desire that these characters have for one other throughout history. It is also crucial to remember that during that time, other people’s remarks and points of view might have a considerable influence on a person’s life. So, the fact that both characters were able to express their affections and wants for one other may be contentious, jeopardizing Clare and Irene’s hard-won reputation. So, when we witness these characters employ laughter, we can typically presume that they are doing so to release the tension they are carrying inside in a way that does not affect either of their images.