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Originally Posted by gmw
Given how worked up Irene had become over the assumed affair between Clare and Brian, even if aliens had used a tractor beam to pull Clare out the window, Irene would still have been thankful that Clare was dead. (Alive, and now exposed, Clare was a threat to Irene and Brian.) So, on its own, this line is not convincing as a guilty plea.
Of course, that line is not on its own. An abundance of such hints were given. It is clear that the author wanted to be sure all readers understood this possibility existed - at least in Irene's mind. The only open question is whether the author expected readers to accept this option outright, or not. I saw the option developing as I was reading, but I felt as if Irene was leading me to it and so I doubted it.
I like the thought that this might have been Nella Larsen's private little joke: Irene passing as a murderer for the readers. But perhaps she would just wonder why people like me refused to accept the obvious.
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If I ever kill someone, will you please be on my jury?
Per Occam's razor: a simple explanation is generally preferable to a more complex one. Irene had motive, means, and opportunity; Irene also showed consciousness of guilt. Clare did not turn and jump. Clare did not trip. Irene pushed Clare.
Explain one more thing to me, and then I'll give up. Why did Irene run at Clare? Here's the passage:
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It was that [Clare's] smile that maddened Irene. She ran across the room, her terror tinged with ferocity, and laid a hand on Clare’s bare arm. One thought possessed her. She couldn’t have Clare Kendry cast aside by Bellew. She couldn’t have her free.
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This is not passive. This is not protective. This is anger and aggression. This is the desire to eliminate a treat.
But if you can offer an alternative explanation, please do.