# VII explained — Quicksand

> Chapter companion for Quicksand by Nella Larsen.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/quicksand_se/chapters/vii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/quicksand_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/quicksand_se/chapters