Passing: Part 3, Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis

The narrator begins this section by describing the unseasonably warm December weather. Irene is on her way home, wishing that the season were colder, so that it would feel more like Christmas. However, Irene admits to herself that she isn’t in the Christmas spirit anyway. Lately she has been suffering from a deep melancholy. Irene mounts the steps of her house and goes into the kitchen.

Irene asks Zulena and Sadie if there is anything to be done before guests arrive for tea, and they tell her it is all prepared. Irene is happy about this. She wishes that she weren’t about to entertain company. Irene goes upstairs and gets into bed. She worries about Brian, who is moody and reserved. Irene cannot read his discontent, and thinks it has to do with his desire to move to South America. Brian’s behavior confuses her, because Irene thinks that, although he seems unhappy, he acts as if he is harboring a secret pleasure. Irene thinks that Brian seems like he is waiting for something, but she cannot pinpoint what. Irene is surprised and anxious that she cannot decipher why Brian is acting so strangely.

Irene naps, exhausted from many sleepless nights of worrying. She wakes up to Brian standing next to her bed and looking at her. Brian tells Irene that it is almost four, meaning that Irene will, as usual, be late. Irene thanks him for waking her. Brian informs Irene that Clare is already downstairs, and Irene responds with annoyance, saying that she did not invite her. Irene explains that the tea party is for Hugh, and Hugh does not especially like Clare. Brian suggests that Hugh might not like Clare just because Clare has never flirted with him.

Irene objects to and is surprised by Brian’s comment. Brian says that Hugh has a godly opinion of himself, and Irene dryly corrects him, saying that Hugh thinks of himself much more highly than that.

Irene lays out the clothes she is going to wear and then sits at her dressing table. Brian says nothing and stares at Irene without seeming to really see her. Irene tells Brian that Hugh prefers intelligent women, and Brian asks if Irene thinks Clare is stupid.

Irene says no, but that she’s intelligent enough “in a purely feminine way.” Brian sees this comment as somewhat catty, but Irene objects, saying that no one admires Clare’s brand of intelligence, as well as her “decorative qualities,” more than she does. Irene then goes on to compare Clare to Felise Freeland, who is beautiful and smart. She then says that Clare would “bore a man like Hugh to suicide,” and turns the conversation back to Clare having shown up uninvited to the party.

After a moment of silence, Brian admits to having invited Clare to the party. Irene is furious, and as she speaks, her voice has a strange edge to it. She notices that Brian has tensed up. Suddenly, she suspects that Brian’s strange behavior is due to the fact that Clare and Brian are having an affair.

Irene completely changes her tune and tells Brian she is glad that Clare is coming. Brian returns downstairs. Irene tells him she will be right down, and Brian asks if she is sure it is all right that he has invited Clare. Irene waves him off, but he continues standing in the room, saying nothing, before finally leaving. Irene, although outwardly collected, is very upset about the idea that Clare and Brian could be having an affair. She looks in the mirror and tries not to cry, but finally lays her head down and weeps. When she is done crying, Irene splashes water on her face and looks at herself in the mirror. She powders her face and thinks to herself that she has been a fool.

Irene heads downstairs, where she happily busies herself with entertaining the tea guests so she does not have to think about the possibility that Brian is cheating on her with Clare. The guests make small talk, and Irene responds to questions about a decoration that Brian bought on a trip to Haiti. Irene feels profoundly exhausted. Still, she pours tea and chitchats, taking in the sounds of sociability, laughter, and teaspoons clinking against cups. The party is going successfully.

Irene thinks this is like so many other parties she has hosted, but also so unlike them. Irene tells herself she has plenty of time later to think over her revelation that Brian might be cheating on her. Irene has an impulse to lash out and make a scene, but she does not.

Instead, Irene makes small talk with Felise Freeland. Felise notes that Irene looks strained, and asks what is wrong. Irene says she is under the weather, and Felise tells her to go shopping, then asks about Irene’s sons. Irene thinks that, for once, she has forgotten about them, and tells Felise they are fine. Felise tells Irene she is going to go talk with Clare, who is sitting by herself, and who she wants to invite to a party.

Felise, before leaving her, comments that Clare looks stunning. Irene agrees, and takes in Clare’s fine clothes. Irene spots Hugh across the room near the bookshelves, and hopes he is not bored. Irene sees that Hugh is looking scornfully at Clare. Clare is talking with Brian, and as Irene watches them, they remind her again of her suspicion of infidelity. Irene thinks that Clare’s white face looks like a mask, hiding her true self, while Brian, smiling, seems to be an open book. Irene looks away, but then looks back again.

Irene makes social plans with the party guests, but feels apathetic and tired. She eavesdrops on Clare talking to Dave Freeland, and hears Clare’s charming compliments to Dave. Irene notes that Clare bewitches Dave, despite the fact Irene thinks Clare is stupid, and Dave is a successful novelist married to Felise.

Irene thinks again about the possibility that Brian and Clare are sleeping together, and wonders what will happen to her and the boys if that is the case. Irene feels that she means nothing to Brian beyond being the mother of his children.

Irene, enraged at this thought, drops her teacup (whether intentionally or unintentionally it is unclear). It shatters and spills tea everywhere. Everyone in the room stops talking and looks at her. Zulena hurries to clean it up. Hugh, who is suddenly at her side, apologizes, says he must have pushed her, and asks if the cup was valuable. Irene, recovering from her emotional pain, is pridefully unhappy that Hugh has covered for her. She thinks he realizes that Irene is jealous of Clare and suspects infidelity. Irene wants to dissuade him from this suspicion, so Irene steels herself, and then turns to Hugh and tells him that he did not push her.

Irene says that, instead, she broke the cup on purpose because she thinks it is ugly. Irene tells Hugh it was a Confederate cup owned by Brian’s great-great-granduncle. Hugh nods, and Irene wonders if she has convinced him. Irene, forcing herself to laugh, tells Hugh that she will let him take the blame and say he pushed her so Brian won’t be mad.

Irene makes small talk with Clare, which the narrator tells using only conversation fragments spoken by Irene. The clock chimes, and Irene is surprised that only an hour has passed. Irene bids everyone goodbye. She is in tremendous amounts of emotional pain, but decides that it does not matter as long as no one suspects as she does that Brian and Clare are having an affair.