Quicksand · Chapter
VII explained
Helga Crane, having met Mrs.
What happens
Helga Crane, having met Mrs. Hayes-Rore, travels with her to New York, where she condenses speeches for the Negro Women's League of Clubs convention. During the journey, Helga reluctantly reveals her family background, and Mrs. Hayes-Rore advises her to conceal her white ancestry. Upon arrival, Helga is taken to the home of Anne Grey, Mrs. Hayes-Rore's niece, where she feels like a criminal for hiding her past.
Themes in this chapter
Racial Identity and Belonging
Helga's concealment of her white ancestry and Mrs. Hayes-Rore's advice that 'what others don't know can't hurt you' underscore the theme of racial identity and the pressure to belong within the African American community.
Alienation and Isolation
Helga feels the 'terrible loneliness' of New York and describes herself as having 'no people,' highlighting her profound sense of alienation and isolation.
Class and Materialism
Mrs. Hayes-Rore's wealth from her late husband's political connections and her use of money to secure Helga a job reflect the intersection of class, materialism, and opportunity in the African American community.
Characters to notice
- Helga Crane
Helga travels to New York with Mrs. Hayes-Rore, reluctantly shares her personal story, and feels like a criminal upon being introduced to Anne Grey under a false pretense.
- Mrs. Hayes-Rore
Mrs. Hayes-Rore hires Helga to condense her speeches, probes Helga about her family, advises her to hide her white ancestry, and arranges for her to stay with Anne Grey.
- Anne Grey
Anne Grey is introduced as Mrs. Hayes-Rore's niece, a widow living alone in a big house, who warmly welcomes Helga but is told a partial truth about Helga's background.
Key passages
“New York’s the lonesomest place in the world if you don’t know anybody.”
Mrs. Hayes-Rore warns Helga that New York is extremely lonely without connections.
This highlights Helga's isolation and the importance of social networks in the city.
“I wouldn’t mention that my people are white, if I were you. Colored people won’t understand it, and after all it’s your own business.”
Mrs. Hayes-Rore advises Helga to keep her white ancestry a secret because black people would not comprehend it.
This underscores the theme of racial identity and the social pressures of passing or concealing one's heritage.