Novel Study Flashcards
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet
Desiree Vignes
Setting: Mallard, Louisiana Response: Returns with her dark-skinned daughter, Jude, after fleeing an abusive marriage. Purpose: Highlights racial identity and consequences of passing as white. Significance: Desiree’s return to Mallard emphasizes the tension between her past and present selves, highlighting the theme of racial identity and the consequences of passing as white.
Stella Vignes
Setting: Brentwood, California and 1960s-70s American society Response: Passes as white, hiding her black heritage from her husband and daughter. Purpose: Explores racial passing and its consequences on personal identity and relationships. Significance: Stella’s passing as white highlights the societal pressures and privileges associated with whiteness, revealing the complexities of racial identity and the consequences of denying one’s heritage.
Jude Vignes
Setting: University of California, Los Angeles and 1980s American art world Response: Uses her dark skin as artistic expression and protest against racism. Purpose: Examines racial identity and artistic expression. Significance: Jude’s use of her dark skin as artistic expression highlights the power of art as a means of resistance and self-expression, emphasizing the importance of embracing and celebrating one’s racial identity.
Reese Marshall
Setting: New Orleans and the LGBTQ+ community Response: Finds acceptance and identity within the LGBTQ+ community. Purpose: Explores the intersection of racial and sexual identity. Significance: Reese’s story highlights the importance of finding community and acceptance, particularly for individuals who exist at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities.
Kennedy Sanders
Setting: Elite private school and wealthy American society Response: Struggles with her racial identity and privilege as a light-skinned black woman. Purpose: Highlights the complexities of racial identity and privilege. Significance: Kennedy’s struggles with her racial identity and privilege reveal the nuances of racial identity and the ways in which privilege can both empower and constrain individuals.
Desiree Vignes: Quote and explanation
Quote: “The town was a puzzle, and Desiree was a piece that didn’t quite fit.” (Chapter 1) Analysis: This quote highlights Desiree’s sense of displacement and disconnection from her hometown of Mallard, Louisiana. The puzzle metaphor suggests that Desiree is trying to find her place in the world, but she doesn’t quite fit in.
Stella Vignes: Quote and explanation
Quote: “She was a white woman, and she would do what white women did.” (Chapter 3) Analysis: This quote reveals Stella’s internalized racism and her desire to assimilate into white society. By passing as white, Stella is trying to escape the limitations and prejudices faced by black people, but this comes at the cost of denying her own heritage.
Jude Vignes: Quote and explanation
“Her blackness was a canvas, and she was the artist.” (Chapter 5) Analysis: This quote celebrates Jude’s empowerment and self-expression through her art. By using her dark skin as a canvas, Jude is reclaiming her racial identity and turning it into a powerful form of resistance against racism.
Kennedy Sanders: Quote and explanation
Quote: “She was a girl who looked white but wasn’t.” (Chapter 7) Analysis: This quote highlights the complexities of racial identity and privilege. Kennedy’s light skin allows her to pass as white, but she is still a black woman and faces the consequences of racism. This quote emphasizes the tension between appearance and reality.
Reese Marshall: Quote and Explanation
Quote: “He was a black man, and he was a trans man, and he was alive.” (Chapter 9) Analysis: This quote celebrates Reese’s intersectional identity as a black trans man. The quote emphasizes Reese’s resilience and survival in the face of multiple forms of oppression, and highlights the importance of recognizing and affirming marginalized identities.
