An Intersectional Analysis of Nella Larsen's Quicksand

<p>I will conduct a feminist intersectional analysis of Nella Larsen's Quicksand in order to shed light on this complicated and often misunderstood novel and also to show the value of a truly intersectional framework for literary analysis. In addition, I aim to develop an interdisciplinary intersectional methodology applicable to literary scholarship by borrowing from social scientists paradigms that have already made many gains in this area. I choose Quicksand because it shows explicitly through the fate of its protagonist, Helga Crane, the dangers that result from relying on discrete, homogenous identity categories and from focusing on only one system of oppression. I read Helga's fate - presumed death through childbirth - as resulting from the confusion and identity crisis that she experiences as an effect of her striving to fit into categories that do not allow her to remain a whole person. In addition, I read her demise as resulting from multiple and simultaneous systematic oppressions that she cannot fully comprehend because she tries to extract them from one another. Ultimately I read Helga's fate as symptomatic of essentialist notions of identity as well as of simplistic approaches to oppressions. Further, I argue that through Helga, Larsen anticipates later problems associated with the then burgeoning identity politics as well as anticipates future conversations about intersectional identities and oppressions as well as about mind/body dualism. Larsen exhibits prophetic understanding of intersectional concepts related to black women's complicated positions and identities. Ultimately, using this framework will give a more complete reading of Quicksand and resist reductionist readings that try to classify the novel as either about race or about gender or about sexuality.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Campus Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English Language and Literatures

Year

2012

Author dc:creator

• Smith, Anna Rebecca

Contributors dc:contributor

• Qiana Whitted

• Arts and Humanities
• English Language and Literature
• class
• feminism
• gender
• intersectionality
• race
• sexuality

Statement dc:rights

• © 2012, Anna Rebecca Smith

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/1099

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarcommons.sc.edu:etd-2100