Quicksand by Nella Larsen, Helga Crane a young teacher born of a white mother and a black father is the central character. Helga is discontent with her life and has not been able to identify herself as white or black. Helga’s character progresses throughout the story within her thoughts and actions as she searches for happiness.This is shown in the beginning of the story as she works as an educated teacher in an all black school in Naxos, GA. She was very unhappy working at Naxos. Helga’s character evolves as she made the decision to leave her teaching job at Naxos.This meant suppressing her desire for “lovely clothes, and gracious ways of living.” (368)
Helga at first believed positively that Naxos would be a school of uniqueness and innovation. She was greatly please to be a part of this establishment as presented in the story when the narrator states “…at first with the keen joy and zest of those immature people who have dreamed dreams of doing good to their fellow men”.(Larsen, 365) but that wasn’t the case. The school was a showplace to attempt to turn black children into white. She was frustrated with the strict education system for it “hypocrisies and careless cruelties” towards the children of the school. Helga hated the methods of the school and felt “powerless” as stated in the text.
That zest of optimism she felt was blotted out. As stated in the text “Helga’s essentially likable and charming personality was smudged”. (365) Leaving Naxos was a big relieve for her, even though this meant looking for a new job and facing more difficulties as a black and white women. She also struggled with facing what she really wanted, which is happiness.
