Determinism In Quicksand Essay Research Paper During

Determinism In Quicksand Essay, Research Paper

During the Harlem Renaissance, many literary works concentrated on celebrating African American heritage. However, many other writers also began concentrating on the darker theme of naturalism. Nella Larsen s Quicksand illustrates many elements of this movement. These include a biological determinism, where man is conceived of as controlled by his primitive animal instincts and a sociological determinism, whereby the weak are destroyed and the strong survive in a world of struggle and chance. Helga Crane, Larsen s protagonist in Quicksand, illustrates the elements of both biological and sociological determinism in her inability to suppress her natural animal instinct to flee uncomfortable situations, and to comfortably conform in either of her opposing communities.

Helga cannot suppress her desire to flee from uncomfortable situations in any city that she lives in. In Naxos, she convinces herself that she is leaving a place that has grown into a machine (4). Although the conforming nature of the institution contributes to Helga s desire to leave, she is also stirred with an overpowering desire for action of some sort (4). Instead of staying in Naxos and fighting a battle against the institute s conservative attitudes, Helga chooses to flee an unpleasant reality. This exemplifies the fight or flight animal instinct that is said to control behavior in situations that become overwhelming. Instead of fighting, Helga time and time again chooses to leave what becomes unbearable to her. Once the decision is made to leave Naxos, Helga feels like a person who had been for months fighting the devil and then unexpectedly had turned around and agreed to do his bidding (5). Helga knows deep down that leaving Naxos is wrong, but the instinct to flee is so strong that she is powerless to deny it.

In New York, Helga is also consumed by the animal instinct of flight. When Dr. Anderson calls on her after a chance meeting at a nightclub, Helga had no intention of running away, but something, some imp of contumacy, drove her from his presence, though she longed to stay (51). Once again, Helga succumbs to her overwhelming desire to leave an uncomfortable situation. Later she realizes with a sense of helplessness and inevitability that the weapon she had chosen had been a boomerang, for she herself had felt the keen disappointment of the denial (51). Obviously Helga is denying her attraction to Dr. Anderson and hides it with an uncontrollable wish to wound him (51). Clearly, Helga is internally struggling with her sexual desire for Dr. Anderson by disguising it with anger towards him. However, instead of confronting these emotions, Helga again allows her natural instinct of flight to take over in order to deal with the situation.

Helga also illustrates her inability to control the instinct of flight in Copenhagen. During her stay, she is incited to make an impression and to inflame attention and admiration (74). Helga s desire to attract attention is overshadowed by her internal struggle with her natural instincts. In Copenhagen she instinctively wanted to combat this searching into one thing which, here, surrounded by all other things which for so long she has so positively wanted, made her a little afraid. Started vague premonitions (79). Helga is searching for happiness but she intuitively knows from her premonitions that her search is futile because of her inability to remain in a place that becomes uncomfortable.

By the time Helga s desire to leave Alabama is evident, it is clear that Helga s natural instinct to constantly escape the reality of her life has become her downfall. This time, she has responsibility towards her children who she wanted not to leave if that were possible (135). Perhaps, when she began to have her fifth child , Helga decides to stay in Alabama, thereby fighting the inner demons that have controlled her life (135). These children are a constant reminder to Helga of her internal struggle of the overwhelming desire to flee and, in the end, perhaps her savior against her natural instincts. Now she must allow other instincts to guide her, those of motherhood.

Helga s inability to conform in her respective communities illustrates her sociological determinism. In Naxos, she realizes that the African American society is as complicated and as rigid as the highest strata of white society. If you couldn t prove your ancestry and connections, you were tolerated, but you didn t belong (8). Although Helga knows her ancestry, she never reveals her white heritage to African Americans. However, Helga s desire to be different is reflected in her apparel. She wears elaborate, colorful clothes that cause her peers to detect the subtle difference from their own irreproachably conventional garments (18). Helga does not desire to conform in Naxos but she knows too that she is not happy in her unconformity (7). Instead of deciding to adapt to life at Naxos, Helga alienates herself from other individuals.

In New York, Helga also illustrates her inability to conform. Although she fits in as an African American in Harlem, her thoughts are consumed with the European side of her heritage. She convinces herself that she does not crave from those pale and powerful people, awareness (45). However, Helga is impressed with Audrey Denney who goes about with white people (60). The fact that Helga admires A