Call for Acceptance (Letter to the Author)

Dear Nella Larsen,
After reading your novel, Quicksand, I was interested in reading about your background. After some “extensive” research (Wikipedia), I recognized a striking resemblance between you and Helga Crane. Like Helga, you were also racially mixed with your father being white and your mother being black. I conjectured that the novel's central theme about fitting into a society might have been a reflection of a problem you may have faced in your own life.
Throughout the book, Helga is rejected by both races and is eventually “...[forced] to subdue a furious inclination to scream out in protest” (Pg. 134) As she reluctantly marries the southern preacher, she falls into misery and depression due to her pregnancies and her longingness to break away from her husband. Unlike Helga, you divorced your husband after facing difficulties when you lived in Harlem.
I was wondering what problems if any, you met while residing in Harlem. What was the driving force behind your brave decision to divorce your husband? Were your problems similar to those of Helga? Helga notes how black members of Harlem were hypocrites due to their “...[failing] to stick together” (Pg. 61), a criticism of anyone who passes or doesn’t embrace their black heritage while being content with passing for parties. Having lived in Harlem, do you agree with Helga’s criticism?
As I have noticed that your personal life is reflected in the story of Helga Crane, I was wondering if there was any particular reason that you chose to express your experience indirectly through Helga instead of writing an autobiography directly.
Sincerely,
Matt




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