Quicksand shows Helga’s as a figure of a Mulatto with a constant confli

Nella Larsen deals with the crisis of racial identity Helga has throughout Quicksand. She comments on the manners of a mulatto woman at a strict moody southerly school who wants to find herself-importance. Larsen deals Helga as the tragic mulatto from the beginning of the novel ambit clearly the views of downcast racial characteristics. The tragic mulatto being a uninspired idea of someone doomed to limbo between being swart and duster. Helga exhibits, an inability to conform anywhere long enough to discover whether she is black or white. The main issue of the novel is societys guidelines consider things as black or white with no healthy medium. Helgas sexuality comes into this as she is unable commit to relations thought things are missing from her life. The struggle that is primarily at conflict is that of Helgas kin with crowd together and Naxos. This makes her frustrated in that she is restricted from herself and has to battle with both James ideals of her and her own . Larsen uses Axel Olsen as a figure that represents the white ideals that are present in Helgas battle. He characterises how her white desires and personality should be. Part of the conflict of self is that of Helgas relationship with Dr Anderson he is seemingly part of the battle of her black self. It is his opinions of her that keep her from truly doing what she wants, it is frustration that keeps Helga. Another very important conniption of this book in screening the repression of Helgas repressed sensuality is her eventual(prenominal) marriage of the Reverent. The final aspect is her dress and the way that she behaves, it is initially curb and comes slowly to be unleashed by her. These factors are all valid in showing the conflict of race in causing the repression and exhib... ...g with the spiritual feeling of being black. This fact that she cannot find an equilibrium is due to those around her such as James, Dr Anderson, Anne, Axel Olsen and the Reverend. They all are on the black or white scale and she just fits in between. The book never concludes her struggle, so in that respect is still the question of whether she will ever find her identity. The school of Naxos creates persuade ideas, even though it is clear she never agreed with them she still cannot escape the beliefs that they held. Therefore she is stuck in a kind of limbo. Dr Anderson is the only man she truly can relate but it is this want for more that stops her delight with him. Happiness is the biggest issue for Helga and whilst she cannot find a helpful balance in closing she has the most important job of all bringing up children, she is the influential role in their lives.