Sexuality in Passing

After reading the Deborah E. McDowell I would have to slightly disagree with some of the claims that she makes. I disagree with her claim that sexuality, and not race, is the center of the novel. I believe that while sexuality is a major aspect of the novel, race is the main aspect and the focal point of the novel. McDowell claims that, “We might say that Larsen wanted to tell the story of the black woman with sexual desires to establish black women as respectable in black middle-class terms” (pg. 371). McDowell does make some very good claims to help further her claims, such as bringing up the envelope that is mentioned in the beginning of the novel as a metaphorical vagina (pg. 374). Even though these points are brought up in her essay, I do not think that they are enough to convince the reader that sexuality is what Larsen intended to focus on in her novel, despite being valid claims. McDowell herself even claims that, “Focusing on racial identity or racial ambiguity and cultural history, the book invite the reader to place race at the center of any critical interpretation” (pg. 372). I believe that this claim shows what Larsen really wanted to focus on in her novel, as she could have focused more on sexuality if it were her initial intentions. I believe Larsen did intend to make sexuality a major part of the novel, just not the main focus. I believe that she intended to use the aspect of sexuality to tie in with her primary focus which was race.