ldnt endure (273). After this speech, Helga becomes silent, and begins to realize that she does not want to leave. Her respect, and perhaps desire for Anderson, this man who was talking so earnestly of his work, his plans, his hopes (273) has caused an immediate change in her attitude. Many readers would feel this is fickle and indecisive. But what human has not committed these same actions? It is not here where she has made a mistake. Later on in the conversation, Anderson mentions her childhood. Here, Helga acts on immature instincts, and becomes selfishly engaged in her own self-pity, The shamed feeling which had been her penance evaporated. Only lacerated pride remained (273-274). It is here where Helga Crane walks out and quits. Thus, she left Naxos not because of its less than liberated environment, but purely because she was ashamed of her childhood and prideful of herself. This incident is reminiscent of the fatal personality contradiction that marks her life. In Harlem, Helga acts on various instincts that truly show her depth, her integrity, and her sense of adventure. Arriving there, she is set up with Anne who was interesting, an odd confusion of wit and intense earnestness; a vivid and remarkable person (291). They had a nice friendship in Harlem with a social and economic situation suited to Helgas tastes. The people in Harlem were easy-going and interesting. Helga was happy. Yet, as time wore on Helga became discontent. The more she knew of Harlem the less she desired to frequent it. She began to slowly see the hypocrisies of Harlem particulaly through Anne who would not have desired or even have been willing to live in any section outside the black belt, and she would have refused scornfully, had they been tendered, any invitation from white folkbut she aped their clothes, their manners, and their gracious ways of living (294). It bothered Helga to listen to Anne who Helga felt had not even been subject...
