"Quicksand" by Nella Larsen

During this novel Quicksand, by Nella Larsen, Helga was a biracial (mulatto) young woman living through the period where people had a strong sense of racial identity and were separated by this. Throughout this entire novel, it seemed as if Helga crane was always seeking and chasing something; whether it was a sense of happiness or just a place of belonging. In my opinion, Helga leaves Naxos because she doesn't like the feel of it and it seems as if these 'Black' people are just compressed together in this one place ruled by the white man (the preacher). So, she decides to leave then and there, not even waiting to the end of the school year. During Helga's meeting with Dr. Anderson, she almost gives in and stays when he is explaining to her that she is right in her feelings. Therefore, she should stay to help Naxos for the good instead of running off because things aren't to her liking. Then when Dr. Anderson tells Helga that she is from good stock, she flips out and becomes defensive just because of her background; even though a person's background doesn't shape them into whom they are or what they can become. Helga leaves because she is not, in her definition, "Happy". So, Helga believes that in Chicago, Uncle Peter will loan her money to get on her feet and until she stables herself. However, Uncle Peter's wife sends Helga off instilling in her head that she isn't Uncle Peter's niece because of her "background, with her mother and father not being married. Why should this matter? Her mother was still Peter's sister so I don't understand how Helga sat there and believed what Peter's wife said. To anyone else, Helga would have stood up but she sat there and took what was town at her and fled. When Helga finally gets a job after struggling to find work to support herself, she seems almost ungrateful. Helga thinks to herself how can they think that she would just jump at the first job even though she knew deep down that that was exactly what she would have done anyway. So, she worked for Mrs. Hayesrore and left for New York. Mrs. Hayesrore took Helga under her wing and helped her get a job and a place to live. Helga always stated that "money doesn't matter", but when she saw Anne's house she immediately wanted to stay because of all the materialistic things she saw. Everything was going great and Helga was "Happy" until one day she starts to hate everyone there. Then "Uncle" Peter sends her a letter apologizing while also disowning her; and he also leaves her five thousand dollars. She again states, "Money doesn't matter", but she keeps the money. He encourages Helga to go to Denmark to her Aunt Katrina who "always wanted her." So Helga goes thinking she will be better accepted here and of course she will finally be "Happy". Here, Helga is welcomed with open arms by her aunt Katrina and her husband. However, they start buying Helga all of these flamboyant clothes and parading her around. So Helga begins to feel as if she isn't exactly accepted all the way. Aunt Katrina thinks Helga needs to marry but Helga doesn't like any one there and when asked to marry by Mr. Olsen she declines and disappoints her aunt and uncle. So now Helga is not "Happy" anymore and takes a vacation back to New York for Anne and Mr. Anderson's wedding. She is upset by this and when she meets up with Mr. Anderson; they start dancing at a party and even share a kiss. Now Helga fancies herself in love with him and thinks he feels the same way. Mr. Anderson arranges a meeting but he tells Helga that it was the alcohol that made him do what he did. This shatters Helga's heart and she slaps Mr. Anderson and runs off into the rain. She ends up at a revival and people thinks she is a sinner coming in off the street. Helga has never been a religious person but she seems to catch the "Spirit" here and afterwards Rev. Green walks her home. Meanwhile Helga looks up into his face and starts to feel something for him. So Helga is in "Love" now and marries Rev. Green and moves to Alabama. Now, once again Helga is "Happy". The people of this small town in Alabama don't really except Helga at first because she is so uptight and deems herself above everyone else. However, they have children and Helga falls sick, and the neighbors all take care of the children until she gets well. They even start having empathy for Helga and finally began to except her. Helga seems not to be "Happy" anymore so she plans to leave; but stays for her children and began to except her life there with her husband and other "black" people. She finally feels as if she has a place where she "belongs and is truly “Happy". I really enjoyed the novel Quicksand by Nella Larsen. However, while reading this novel, I went through a conflict of emotions through reading from the character Helga Crane's point of view.