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Ieshia Mitchell Dr. Mahwash Shoaib ENG 232-02 American Literature II Short Paper 1 February 14, 2017 Desiree's Baby The short story “Desiree’s Baby” was written by a very unique artist named Kate Chopin. What challenged Chopin to writing short stories was being told that this was morally a male-dominated profession, but that didn’t stop her. She went on to write many stories during her time that will remain classics today. Desiree’s baby was one of her very many great works. . It has been one of Chopin’s most popular stories for over half a century. For the theme of this very unique short story; I saw this story being about racism because it talks about a baby and a racial catastrophe between a husband and wife and I also saw this shirt story being about identity. There are many themes to consider in this shirt story, but identity and racism stuck out to me the most. The beginning of this story starts out with the lack of identity. It was set before the American Civil War. It shows how Desiree was an orphan. She was found in an ally by Madam Valmonde, whom soon became her adopted mother. When you are an orphan and have no parents you might question “where did I come from?” I myself have felt a lack of identity. When it comes to questioning where you come from; I also was adopted into a family that I wasn’t born …show more content…
Desiree’s Baby” interpreted the ways of the nineteenth century where sexist roles and economic changes were presented in society. Armand’s position as a rich, white male permitted him to use complete control over his possession, who was this poor, black woman. In spite of that, Armand Aubigny was a guy that fell in love and married her. So that she would have a last name, Désirée, although white, was treated as a possession. Since Désirée was viewed as a woman and a possession, it showcased Armand’s power of others on the one and only difference of the color of his
“Desiree’s Baby” can represent a timeframe status of how slavery and race were a factor that defined people. Armand was very ambiguous by the tone he would had towards Desiree and by his action. Desiree was faithful to her husband, in the other hand we are able to understand or presumed that La Blanche’s boy looked very alike as Desiree’s baby, which most likely Armand might be the father of both kids. Armand was in love at first, but then his pride and ambiguous.
Desiree’s Baby is about a girl named Desiree, who is adopted by the Valmonde family after they find her in the shadow of a stone pillar. When Desiree becomes a young woman, a plantation owner with one of the finest names in Louisiana, Armand Aubigny, becomes attracted to her.... ... middle of paper ... ...
In Desiree’s Baby by Kate Chopin references discrimination in Creole, Louisiana during the antebellum period. Race has continuously left a significant impression on the past and continues in today’s society. African Americans were always seen as the failures, and treated harshly because the color of their skin. They didn't have any voting privileges or equality compared to that of Caucasians. Desiree’s Baby depicts how racial discrimination can control ones way of living even in intimate relationships. Race and birth history is a strong theme throughout. Desiree was adopted into a high socioeconomic status. She herself was not really sure of her origin. The concept of birth history first appears when Desiree is found by Monsieur Valmonde and rumors begin to fly as to who Desiree is and her origin. Madame V...
The writings of Kate Chopin are a reflection of her upbringing and view of the world around her. Her experiences living in the South served as both a setting and character in her work. She used her writings to explore the position of women in society with emphasis of the effect of the institution of marriage. She wrote about female sexual identity and desire. Some of her stories were considered scandalous for the time period since they covered topics and subjects that were considered socially unacceptable. This paper will examine how these themes are used throughout Chopin’s short stories.
Desiree’s Baby takes place in the Antebellum Period (1789-1849) where slavery was starting to become less common. Never the less slavery was still prominent in the southern states such as Louisiana, which is where the story takes place. Armand, a plantation owner, treated his slaves as many plantation owners did, with anger, punishment, degradation, and humiliation, which were accomplished through his words and actions.
In the short story Desiree’s Baby, written by Kate Chopin, the author shows different variations of love. The story explores a man’s love for his wife, a wife’s love for her husband, and a mother’s love for her child. The purpose of this essay is to examine the different ways the characters portrayed love, as well as which version of love is the ideal version.
Armand feels like he is the victim of betrayal by his wife Désirée. As the baby gets older it is clear that the baby is not white. Armand’s attitude quickly makes him assume that Désirée is not white giving Armand a feeling of deception. He denounces his love for Désirée and the child and casts them out of the house and his life. Désirée is stricken with grief about her treatment by Armand. She cannot believe how a man who loves her so much could treat her with such hostility and cruelty. Désirée develops a negative attitude towards herself and her baby. She is upset that she cannot change how Armand thinks of her because of her baby. This attitude causes Désirée to walk out of Armand’s life forever to her demise. Core beliefs also give to human behavior in “Samuel” and “Desiree’s
In “Désirée’s Baby,” La Blanche never actually appears nor does she speak a line of dialogue. Her concrete presence in the story is limited to only being mentioned in passing by either Désirée or Armand. However, each instance of La Blanche’s mentioning lead to an effect and/or an implication on the story and on the way it is told. La Blanche specifically affects the portrayal of Désirée’s and Armand’s relationship. Désirée’s remark about Armand being able to hear the baby’s cries from La Blanche’s cabin indicates Armand’s affair as well as his immorality and dual nature. The similarity between the appearances of La Blanche’s light-skinned child and Désirée’s own son is what reveals the truth of the baby’s ethnicity to Désirée. Armand cites La Blanche’s name as a way to insult Désirée and to divulge the extent of the prejudice that fuels the main conflict of the story. In all of these events, La Blanche’s mere existence hints towards the underlying dysfunction and resentment that is present in the marriage of Désirée and Armand; however, it is her non appearance that expands this even further. La Blanche’s effect on the story is similar to the environmental racism that is also present: she is a silent
More Powerful Than One Knows The topic of race and racism has been prevalent in the world for thousands of years, even dating back to ancient Mesopotamia in 10000 B.C. (Barton 1). Despite it being an ongoing battle, prejudice against people of dark skin types does not date back as long; the end of the middle ages was where the world began to see this type of racism really develop after King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella took Spain back from the Black Moors (Barton 1). In Kate Chopin’s tale, “Desiree’s Baby,” race showed itself as a more valuable weapon than love in Armand’s heart. Slavery in itself has been a part of human history for as long as man can remember.
Although Armand truly loved Desiree, his love wasn’t stronger than protecting his family’s status. He knew from the beginning that it was he who was not white. Hoping that his child would not come out black, he still took precautions by marrying a woman with an unknown origin to put the blame on. He hated himself for what he truly was and he was not going to let anyone know his secret and have that kind of power over him. It was never Desiree’s fault and she ended up suffering when it was really Armand’s doing.
In her story, Desiree’s Baby, Kate Chopin underlined the contrast between lust and love, exploring the problem of a man’s pride that exceeded the love he has for his wife. Armand, the main character of the story, is a slave owner who lived in Louisiana during the era of slavery. He married an adopted young woman, Desiree, and together they have a son who eventually became an obstacle in the way of his father’s happiness, thus removing out the true character of Armand. Desiree’s Baby, by Kate Chopin is a love story, love that ultimately proved to be a superficial love, a story that shed light on the ugly relationships between people. “Lust is temporary, romance can be nice,
Throughout the years many variations of the ideas on race, class, and culture have been presented based upon different factors. In earlier times people’s views were not nearly the same as they are presented today. Ideas that women belong in the kitchen or that African-American’s were an inferior race were common. Those views were very popular during the time of Kate Chopin’s book “Desiree’s Baby.” Chopin’s book explores the controversial areas of race and class as well as touching on the subject of culture. “Desiree’s Baby” shows the life of Desiree from a young child through adulthood. The young Desiree was found by a rich family alone on the streets. Even in a time where race and social class was important the wealthy, a rich couple took in young Desiree without knowing her ancestral background. Desiree lived a good life with the family. The story then switches to when Desiree was a young adult and falls in love with Armand Aubigny. Armand also comes from a wealthy background and still falls for Desiree without knowing her racial background. Eventually, the young couple has a baby but to their surprise the baby comes out with African traits. Armand is not happy and rethinks whether she has African in her background or if maybe she had an affair with a slave. Desiree’s mother offers to have her and the baby come back and stay with them but when Desiree leaves she disappears and is never seen again. Later, Armand finds out that it may not have been Desiree that carries African roots but himself, from his mother’s side. Overall, Chopin’s work looks into the controversial issues of race, class, gender and culture using ironies and the story-line to infer the views of these topics.
In 'Desiree?s Baby,' Chopin illustrates her idea of the relationship between men and women by portraying Desiree as vulnerable and easily affected, whereas Armand is presented as superior and oppressive. Throughout ?Desiree?s Baby,? Kate Chopin investigates the concept of Armand's immense power over Desiree. At first, Desiree tries to conform to the traditional female role by striving to be an obedient wife. Later in the story, this conformity changes after Desiree gives birth to her part-black son.
In “Desiree’s Baby,” Kate Chopin writes about the life of a young lady and her new family. In this short story, the fond couple lived in Louisiana before the American Civil War. Chopin illustrates the romantic atmosphere between Armand and Desiree. Chopin also describes the emotion of the parents for their new born. When the baby was born, Armand’s heart had softened on behalf of others. One afternoon, Desiree and the baby were relaxing in a room with a young boy fanning them with peacock feathers. As they were relaxing, Desiree had sniffed a threatening scent. Desiree desired Armand’s assistance as she felt faint from the odor that she could not comprehend. Armand had denied the request his wife sent. Therefore, he cried out that she nor the baby were white. Thus, Desiree took the baby and herself and walked into the bayou and they were never seen again. In this short story, Chopin illustrates the psychological abuse Desiree faces from her husband.
In conclusion, Chopin’s story explains how life in the late 1800s treated black people, as well as where white people traditionally stood on the social ladder in comparison. Most rich whites owned slaves that were treated poorly, much like Armand’s before the marriage and after the child grew. It also explained that having any black in the family was shameful