Irene Quotes Flashcards
Irene’s immediate judgment of Clare’s attitude towards danger?
She was wholly unable to comprehend such an attitude towards danger.
How does Irene judge Clare’s sexuality?
Just a shade too provocative.
What does Irene realize about appearances?
Appearances, she knew now, had a way sometimes of not fitting facts.
What is Irene’s curiosity about passing?
The truth was, she was curious.
How does Irene describe passing?
Hazardous business of passing, this breaking away from all that was familiar and friendly to take one’s chance in another environment, not entirely strange, perhaps, but certainly not entirely friendly.
What does Irene say about the ease of passing?
It’s such a frightfully easy thing to do.
What does Irene say about her relationship with Clare?
She was through with Clare Kendry.
How does Irene feel about her loneliness?
A sense of aloneness, in her adherence to her own class and kind.
What does Irene think about Clare’s legs?
Showed an appalling amount of leg.
What does Irene believe about her own happiness?
The wiser and infinitely happier one. I’m not sure just now.
What conclusion does Irene reach about her relationship with Clare?
And that, she told herself, was that.
How does Irene cope with Clare’s presence?
She had only to turn away her eyes, to refuse her recognition.
What does Irene desire?
Security of place and substance.
What depth does Irene see in Clare?
It was that in spite of her determined selfishness the woman before her was yet capable of the heights and depths of feeling that she, Irene Redfield, had never known.
How does Irene feel about her identity to Brian?
She was, to him, only the mother of his sons. That was all. Alone she was nothing. Worse. An obstacle.
What does Irene say about enduring?
She would, she would bear it. She’d have to.
What condition does Irene have for enduring pain?
She could bear anything, but only if no one knew that she had anything to bear. It hurt.
How does Irene describe her thoughts?
The walled prison of Irene’s thoughts.
What is Irene’s situation regarding her allegiances?
She was caught between two allegiances.
What does race represent for Irene?
Race! The thing that bound and suffocated her.
When does Irene finally acknowledge race?
For the first time she suffered and rebelled because she was unable to disregard the burden of race.
What does impermanence mean for Irene?
Menace of impermanence.
What does Irene wonder about a woman’s endurance?
Was it, perhaps, that she had endured all that a woman could endure of tormenting humiliation and fear?
What does Irene feel about her control over Brian?
She was helpless, having so completely lost control of his mind and heart.
What does Irene say about altruism?
Surely everyone doesn’t do everything for gain.
What is Irene’s ambivalence about passing?
It’s funny about ‘passing.’ We disapprove of it and at the same time condone it. It excites our contempt and yet we rather admire it. We shy away from it with an odd kind of revulsion, but we protect it.
What does Irene’s story about the Confederate cup symbolize?
I had an inspiration. I had only to break it, and I was rid of it forever. So simple!
What does Irene’s reluctance to socialize indicate?
Drearily she rose from her chair and went upstairs to set about the business of dressing to go out when she would far rather have remained at home.
What does Irene desire for her son Junior?
Some European school for Junior next year, and Brian to take him.
How does Irene acknowledge her race?
I had Negro blood.
What does Irene say about white women at the Negro Welfare League dance?
All the ladies of my superior race who’re lured up here.
