--This section focuses primarily on the drama of Clarence's passing. How are we to view Clarence and his passing? It is often figured as or likened to a criminal act (Walters compares it to forgery), but Clarence is also seen as a victim: what is the novel's attitude toward passing?--Clarence's sister, Emily, is clearly meant as an alternative to passing. What do her choices and the novel's vision of her say about mixed race characters and their place in the African-American community?
--The novel ends with a celebration. How does it depict African-American community and its relationship to the larger white community?
The celebration in the second last chapter is, I would say, a typical marriage celebration. It does not stand out as typically African-American or European American and if I hadn't known the characters or the other parts of the story I would not have been able to tell them apart.
ReplyDeleteThe preparations are lively and busy and the description is even comical. Caddy tries to delegate all of the work and by trying to control everything causes even more chaos. There is "gay company", everybody is happy and people laugh loudly, which almost scares old Mr, Ellis.
The chaos is not limited to the kitchen, however, and at first, the bridesmaids cannot find the veil and the wreath and Kinch is so excited that he knocks over the flowers.
The food is described lengthily and it explicitly is an American supper, which shows that the black community does not distinguish between the races at this event.
However, most of the guests are whites, which shows that the integration really is only one-sided. Even more so, the wedding party is contrasted with Lizzie's worries and the death of her father who dies painfully. However, despite these contrasts, the ending is rather positive because the truth about Mr Garies murder is finally discovered.
Furthermore, and even though this is not part of the celebration episode anymore, the different kinds of integration (the African-American community as accepting Whites but Whites as largely rejecting Blacks or those who socialize with them) is described at Clarence's funeral, when many Blacks but only two Whites attend.
The novel has a lot to say about the importance of community to a person of mixed race through the characters of Emily and Clarence. Emily and Clarence are orphaned, implying that their community choice will become their family and showing the polar nature of these opposing choices. I think the novel makes it pretty clear when Emily reads her reply to Clarence, shaming his behavior towards herself and their old companions he shunned, "[passing] coldly and unrecognizingly by," that for a person of mixed race to pass is an act of betrayal. Emily seems to be of the opinion that her community and her race are not things she can shed, like Clarence can. Even though he was advised to do so, Clarence's decision to pass is condemned as being ungrateful to his race, something that makes me pity him a great deal. Clarence makes the arguement that a few drops of Negro blood don't make him devoid of trustworthiness, suggesting that he feels that he should be judged as mostly white by other people. On the other hand, Emily's decision to marry Charles and remain grateful to the black community that took her in suggests that she considers herself black, no matter how much white blood she has. To me, the effect of choosing to live among either community reveals that the black community is much more willing to accept and be loyal to a person of mixed race, while the white community will exclude a persond for not being homogenuously Caucasian.
ReplyDeleteThe novel approaches the drama of passing just as it approaches other issues related to race. “The Garies and Their Friends” effectively depicts the extreme ambiguity and confusion related to race relations and to individual identity, in relation to race. There does not seem to be any strict or overarching rule. The romantic relations of blacks and whites are abhorred in the North while, counter intuitively it is seen as a normalcy in the South. Similarly, the issue of mixed race individuals is a complicated one. The result, stems from both the individual’s genetics and environment, yet errs on the side of environment. Clarence’s life of passing as a white man is quite idiosyncratic and may not necessarily depict the novel or author’s attitude toward passing. His father’s lawyer largely decided his fate when he was a child, fully immersing him in a white, upper-class environment and removing him from his ties to the black community and from his sister. Clarence assuredly saw the advantages he was being offered by living as a white man, and may not have seen the detrimental effects passing would have on his relationship with his sister and his own self-confidence and happiness. I think that Clarence’s passing is likened to a criminal act because it is a criminal act against himself. Clearly, it would be difficult to come to terms with the difficulty of picking one race and lifestyle over another, but as a grown man Clarence is committing a crime against himself by not realizing and remedying his situation. Clarence may also be seen as victimized by his life of passing because he is at war with himself, in his search for his true identity. Clarence is both the criminal and victim. In playing the coward and not confessing his true race to his beloved fiancé it may be said that he has been victimized by his environment, doomed to live a fake life as a white man. Yet he may also be seen as a criminal for not stepping up and admitting to himself and his loved ones who he really is.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katelyn’s post—especially with her claim that the black community is more accepting. However, I think that having to make the choice itself is problematic. By literally having the choice be black or white, Emily must reject at least half of her heritage. As Markus said, inclusion is one-sided, and Emily chooses the side that is the most welcoming, not the most advantageous, which is admirable. But, the choice of community is only part of the battle for the Garie children. In Clarence’s statement about his feelings for “Little Birdie,” his observation of his own dual nature is interesting, and perhaps applies to his sister also: “ I love her with all the energy and strength of my father’s race, and all the doating tenderness of my mother’s” (324). This implies a sort of an inherent duality, though it uses reductive racial and gender stereotypes, that perhaps shows the internal struggle that a mixed race person would have faced at this time. In this way, it is more than a choice of community, and cannot entirely be solved by assimilating into one.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Clarence’s death and Emily’s happiness seem to make a semi-concrete point about mixed race people, that life for them is better among an African American community, I am still unsure that it comes to a definitive conclusion about race in general. As we have mentioned, the entire novel seems to contradict itself at times. When Charlie has been turned away by Mr. Western, he and Esther have a short conversation about his inability to obtain employment. She says, “Charlie, my dear boy, I’d give my life if it would change your complexion—if it would make you white! Poor fellow! Your battle of life will be a hard one to fight!” He responds by saying, “I know it, Ess; but I shouldn’t care to be white if I knew I would not have a dear old Ess like you for a sister” (293). Though Charlie does claim that he would rather be black, it is only so that he can retain the same family. Even Esther, as feisty as she was during the riot, cannot escape the allure of an easier life, even if it means being born a different race. Though Clarence and Emily (who can both pass as white) choose their fate (less so on the part of Clarence), this makes very clear that darker African Americans have no choice. With the comments of Esther and Charlie, the novel does not give us a purely happy ending. This was troubling because, as a contemporary reader, I wanted everyone to embrace their race and culture while having equal opportunities, which is unrealistic, I know.
I ended up rambling a little, so this starts with question 3 and evolves into question 1:
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Markus that the wedding celebration isn’t explicitly portrayed as a typical African-American or European-American celebration; the proceedings seem characteristic of any wedding. The veil is misplaced, the food is inspected, flowers are arranged, etc. I did notice that in Markus’s post, he stated that most of the guests were white, but at the very top of page 372 it reads, “There were but few whites amongst them, and they particular friends.” While one might assume that this overlooked detail would subsequently prove his next observation wrong, I still agree that integration is definitely one-sided in the novel (I know I’ve been drawing from Markus’s post, but I’m getting somewhere – promise). Webb portrays the African-American community as easily accepting of those of mixed race, as exemplified by Emily’s marriage to Charles, while suggesting that in order for an African-American to be accepted by the white community, he/she must assimilate through racial passing.
As far as a conclusion about race, I’m not sure the novel makes one. This is especially due to the fact that Clarence is neither admired nor condemned for his decision to pass (victim or criminal?). Yes, the novel promises economic and social progress for blacks who demonstrate persistence and pride against white oppression. However, by not explicitly condemning Clarence’s passing, the novel seems to authorize the assimilation of white values so that blacks can attain the American dream. While I’m glad that the novel advocates social mobility, I was disappointed in Clarence for compromising his racial identity in order to achieve it.
I think that the choices of Emily and Clarence can possibly be seen as commentary on assimilating to a predominantly white American culture. Being mixed race, having the option of passing, is the plot device that makes that narration possible. Clarence chooses to assimilate and it alienates him from the black community. His departure from black culture alienates him and binds him to a culture that will never truly accept him. Emily passes on utilizing her ability to pass as white and stays faithful to the black community, where she will be fully welcomed and appreciated. I think you can make the argument that through these characters, Webb is arguing that unity among the black community is the more beneficial method of living in America among blacks. No matter the innate abilities and talents of a black individual, they will never be fully accepted by the white community, and movement towards assimilation will ultimately do the individual more harm than good, by way of alienation. Of course, the other side of this is that Clarence never really suffers for his choice. If Webb had felt strongly that black unity was the beneficial mode of living as compared to assimilation, I think Clarence may have suffered a more severe fate. Still, the feeling I am left with is that Emily and Clarence demonstrate two possible paths for blacks in the future (of when Webb was writing, not the future of now) and through the character's actions we see Webb's imagined trajectory of the two methods of living.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Markus’s interpretation of the wedding ceremony and the relationship of the African-American community with the white community. If a reader steps away from the race issue in the story, the celebration becomes no different than any other American-style wedding. In fact, Webb describes the wedding dinner as “an American supper,” not basing it on race. It does not appear that either group has integrated this cultural identity, but it is a bringing together of the two communities for a common purpose, i.e. what we might call ‘American.’ Both white and black come together to celebrate this happy occasion, as Father Banks, the Ellises, and Emily Garie all assume a role.
ReplyDeleteThe contrast to this celebration and bringing together of the white and black communities is Clarence’s death and funeral. As Webb claims Clarence to be a “poor victim of prejudice to thy colour,” the African-American community primarily attends his funeral. The unwillingness of the white community to support Clarence stays consistent with the theme and major conflict in the novel; that any strain of ‘blackness’ can cause damage to an African American’s reputation. Thus, Clarence was only accepted in the black community and rejected completely by the white community.
Overall, the black community does not try to be ‘white,’ but tries to create a sense of cohesion all of the time in the novel. The wedding reinforces this point by showing what good can come from each community coming together. In this case, they both strive for the ‘American’ community of a meshing of different cultures all uniting under something larger than race. But, in this society, the white community can also hold a different view of what a true American identity should be, and can include or exclude African-Americans from it at any time.
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ReplyDeleteEven though the black community in general is more open to contacts and friendships with white people, it is important to them to take pride in – or at least fully indentify yourself – as a member of one side. This becomes especially apparent in Emily’s reaction toward Clarence. She accuses him in a letter (not in person) of being „cold and indifferent“ which clearly results out of his „false position and unfortunate education“, i.e. by choosing to be on the side of the whites and not only neglecting but hiding the part of his black heritage. For Emily it seems especially important to choose a side because she is in the same position (she is mixed race). At her wedding the black community is among blacks with the exception of particular friends. In choosing Charlie who „no one would call handsome“, but yet manlier than the cheater Clarence she makes a decision which proves to be the better when you compare her biography to Clarence’s. The „fatal discovery“ proves Clarence as „a villain“ and not worthy to be engaged to „Little Birdie“, the pure white woman in whose „peaceful lithesome heart“ „flowers of innocence bloom and flourish“. Clarence as a person is reduced to his impure race and knowing that he has black blood, too, makes him „a coloured man“ in the eyes of the whites which is on the same level with committing a crime. Even though he always passed as a white Mr. Bates forbids him to „darken [his] door again“. I think it is because of his encounter of Emily’s view on him that Clarence doesn’t dare to turn to the black community and decides to live apart from both sides. The black community, however, does not despise him when they see him in need .It is difficult to judge whether this is a sign of their philanthropy or an act of pity because we cannot be sure if an integration would have been possible if Clarence wouldn’t have shown a severe deterioration in his physical condition. Nevertheless is it safe to say that this wouldn’t be a reason fort the whites and at his burial only two of „all the many whites he had known“ show their condolence.
ReplyDeleteThe characters of Clarence and Emily are very interesting in this story because of their relationship to passing. In the beginning of the story, Clarence and Emily have a strong bond between them which passing was a part of for a while. When they are little, they both use passing to start their education but in the end they are caught. While I am not completely positive on this, I feel that this situation might have had an effect on Emily even though she was quite young when it happened. Clarence on the other hand was pushed into trying to pass again and as he did, the internal struggles that come with passing finally caught up to him near the end of the story. The end of book is where we can see the true division that has happened not only on the subject of passing but also the relationship with Emily and Clarence. Emily has found herself staying with the African American community and embracing that side of her heritage whereas Clarence is still passing. Emily appears to be content and happy with the choice she made because as others have said and I agree that the African American community is more accepting of others that the white community. She sends Clarence a letter in which she tells him what he is doing she does not agree with at all. With Clarence, his acceptance into the white community starts to unravel with his engagement to Little Birdie. The fact that he is paranoid all the time about someone finding out his history leads him to fall ill and then death. His outcome is completely different than that of his sister and because of this I think the novel is saying that no good comes from lying about who you are in a community where they wouldn’t accept you even if you did tell the truth. In the end, again I agree with the statement that it appears in this story that the African American community is more accepting of others that are mixed race than the white community.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katelyn in that ‘passing’ is a sort of betrayal to the black community and cutting off all ties associated with the community. When Clarence decides to pass, he is breaking ties and communication with his race, while trying to fit into a white community he can never truly belong to. Wanting to ‘pass’ to pursue a different life with opportunities black are voided from, I can understand. However, the white community will turn their back on anyone who has the slightest black blood in them, and with leaving the black community, a person could easily be left with no one.
ReplyDeleteI think, The Garies and their Friends, is trying to highlight the difficult decision many blacks faced in deciding whether or not to leave their race behind in hopes of blending in with the white community. I like how Webb uses the characters Emily and Clarence to highlight the opposing opinions on passing, and the message it sent to the black community for a person to want to pass as white.
I think the difference between the Garie children's choice is dependent on many factors. When they were orphaned, they had to decide quickly whether to pass or to stay with the Ellis family. Clarence was older, educated, and a boy, so he had the option of furthering his education and beginning a more lucrative career. He could comprehend living a completely different life, even though it was hard for him to make the transition and to maintain it. Emily was younger, so it was harder for her to make that decision right away. Since she didn't leave immediately, she became much closer to the Ellis family, and couldn't imagine leaving. Based on her character through out the book, I don't think that she would have left when she was older either, but as a young girl, she didn't even really have that option.
ReplyDeleteClarence did ultimately make the decision to pass, but he too was young and kind of coerced into the situation by those looking out for his best interest. He was hesitant, but trusting, and it was difficult for him through out his life. Having that secret killed him, eating away at him from the inside. But if he hadn't been passing, he wouldn't have met Anne in the first place. I think he regretted having to give up his life as a black man, and was happy to come home to it at the end of his life, even though it was in very unfortunate circumstances.
I also agree with Markus's post, stating that the wedding between Charles Ellis and Emily Garie cannot be categorized as being either African-American or European-American. The description of the wedding could be placed as the description of most weddings. Before the wedding, there's chaos, especially when the veil and wreath are not where they were thought to be. Then, as Markus stated, there is Caddy as the bossy attendant who spits out orders. "Caddy ran and brought a towel, and made him take off his white gloves and wipe up the water..."(Webb 375). Then the actual wedding begins.
ReplyDeleteThe actual ceremony was not described but was said to be "soon over" and also that "There were few whites amongst them, and they particular friends." Even though most of the attendants were in fact African-American, the descriptions of the wedding give off no inclination that it was celebrated in a more African-American style or European-American style. This tells me that there was no motivation to be considered more one than the other. The reception was full of food and good company or as stated in the book, "an American supper". This gives off the notion that there is no line between the two races, leaving both as "American".
The book depicts African-American community as identical to the larger white community, in terms of the wedding celebration. However, I believe that the book shows the African-American community as more accepting of another race than the white community. As DLamble said above, considering this particular wedding, the African-American community aims toward bringing both communities together and becoming "American" rather than individual races.
Others have noted that 1. the wedding is not stereotypical in any other way than just being "American" and 2. the African-American community is portrayed as very very similar to that of the white community.
ReplyDeleteI agree with these sentiments, but think that this is caused by something different than Webb trying to make a specific point (such as "we are all the same"). I think Webb continues his theme described in the introduction of being straight-forward and honest in his descriptions, portrayals with the overall force behind the narrative.
In class, we discussed the idea that race and class in America are fairly inextricable and that the categories and the uses of those categories can be very unstable. Webb is showing that even though African and European-American's weddings, customs, and general way of life are the same, the way in which larger society functions within an unstable and arbitrary framework informs the way the narrative moves. Because of this, we get the incorporation of passing, segregation, and mixed raced characters.
Although I think this is the result of Webb being faithful to his depictions, it still can be read as a discussion of the arbitrary and complex way in which race/class in America operates.
I believe that the wedding has no real designation as a "Black" or "White" wedding, it's framed as a typical American wedding to complement the bigger theme of assimilation throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to see the segregated relationships between whites and blacks and the all-or-nothing sentiments toward passing when all throughout the story, Webb gives the reader ample evidence through things that happen in the story that suggest that there is no real difference between either race.
Be that similarity due to the strong efforts of assimilation by Blacks, or just the natural common bonds between humans is hard to tell throughout the book, but on the same hand, I can sympathize with those who wish to keep a degree of separation between both groups.
Clearly, I personally do not support any "separate, but equal" policies, but the way in which Blacks chose to assimilate at this time, i.e. largely through "passing" as white, could be seen as not only endangering Black culture, but also only worsens the blow of subjugation to Blacks, because not only are they seen as inferior to whites by whites, but now the burning glare of inferiority to whites is coming from their own people.
For that reason, I totally understand Emily's contempt with Clarence for passing—especially given their close relationship. It is as if two twins came from the same womb, and both grow up with the pretty much the same identity, then all of a sudden, one twin denounces everything the two hold sacred to their identity. At that point, no longer are you a victim of self-hate [and there is absolutely no hate worse than self-hate], but because we are so much the same, you are inflicting that hate upon me.
It is nothing short of heartbreaking to read how Clarence’s adoption of his white blood (and casting off of his black blood) single-handedly estranges him and his sister. In assuming the role of the white man and being assimilated into the white man’s culture, he has also somewhat been poisoned by the white man’s ideas of the black community. Although he does not discourage Emily from marrying Charlie out of prejudice (he cannot hate what he himself is), he believes that they cannot be happy and that she is making a terrible mistake by marrying a black man (a mindset somewhat akin to that of Uncle John earlier in the novel, who adored Mrs. Garie but believed that Mr. Garie made a grave mistake in marrying her). White culture has made him calloused towards his own people, whereas Emily has become closer than ever to them and has chosen to accept her race for the good and for the bad: “You walk on the side of the oppressor—I, thank God, am with the oppressed” (336). Emily has remained in the close-knit company of the Walters and Ellis’s, who have all become a sort of family (even if blood does not make them so). She has found happiness and has accepted her life contentedly. Clarence’s attempt at a façade proves to be his ultimate ruin, and he is cast from the graces of the Bates family (and, consequently, the white community) upon the discovery of his African origin. This seems to support the grave idea that you cannot cast off a part of yourself and you likewise cannot become something you are not. I say that this idea is grave, but it is also reassuring. The black community is willing to take Clarence back, pretending that he had not done them so much wrong. This shows that the black community is where he truly belongs. It is much better to be virtuous and among the oppressed than to be immoral/cruel and among the oppressors.
ReplyDeleteJust a quick comment on my post and to Emily: Of course most guests are black - it's a typo. Sorry about that.
ReplyDelete