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Explain how the theme of racism is discussed in the story.Desiree’s Baby by Kate Chopin
Author's point of view of desiree's baby essay
How is the theme of prejudice and race distinction reflected in desiree baby
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Recommended: Explain how the theme of racism is discussed in the story.Desiree’s Baby by Kate Chopin
Why Does an Individual’s Ethnicity Create Such a Divisive Issue? The short-story “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin took place during the first half of the 19th century and between the Revolutionary and Civil War, when the intermixing of races was taboo. The story was centered around the negative perspective on ethnicity. It also took place in Louisiana, which is where a multitude of people who are mixed with different origins are found. The theme of racism in “Desiree’s Baby” is reflected in Light and Stancle’s “Color Blind” song. “Desiree’s Baby” illustrates how an individual’s ethnicity can create such a divisive issue with an incredible combination of imagery, characterization, and irony, yet she also unveils the buried actualities about …show more content…
Armand is a multidimensional character throughout the story. At first, Armand was happy that he had a “all white” son but once he found out the child was mixed with black his whole mood changed. Armand was “the proudest father in the parish. He hasn't punished one of them (slaves) since the baby was born” (Chopin 242). Once Armand supposedly found out that Desiree was mixed with African due to his son’s skin complexion, “He absented himself from home; and when there, avoided her presence and that of her child, without excuse. And the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his dealings with the slaves” (Chopin 242). Light and Stancle’s song shines light on the treatment of blacks using characterization, with the lines, “A little boy was killed, his skin was stained. At least that’s what they thought and so he hangs.” The lyrics reflect Armand’s reaction to his son’s stained skin. Armand neglects his wife and son and reverts back to abusing his slaves. Armand’s character relates to sudden change in the Europeans, especially when enslaving Africans arose. According to Franklin and Higginbotham, “Many European colonies did not initially regard African slaves as the only solution to their labor needs in the Americas. By the late seventeenth century, English masters began to enslave Africans, as they presented fewer difficulties than white laborers” …show more content…
“Desiree’s Baby” forms from the base of Kate Chopin’s actual life. Just as Desiree lived with her husband, where they had slaves, “Kate spent the Civil War in St. Louis, where residents supported the Confederacy and her family had slaves in the house” (Clark). Chopin was somewhat “Desiree”. When Desiree’s ethnicity came into question, she pled and cried for her husband to accept her as white because in the eyes of the world, “White is right.” Light and Stancle song shines light on the world’s perspective when it comes to one’s origin. “Should I act white? ‘Cause what I’ve heard is only black is darkness and white is good.”(Light and Stancle). His lyrics steep deeper into how the world thinks. The color black is associated with evil, while white is associated with purity. It continues to stain each non-white person, stating that acting white will help them achieve more. Moreover, Armand associated himself with “white is right” until he couldn’t erase that he was, “cursed with the brand of slavery” (Chopin and Wilson 245). The irony is that Armand was the one who was not white and knew it. According to Jamie Davis, “Chopin's says that there was “…an air of mystery among the blacks” and “unexpected visits from far-off neighbors who could hardly account for their coming.” All levels of society were talking about his black child. He could not admit that it was he who made the child
“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.
To start with, Armstrong’s take on “Black and Blue” – originally written about a dark-skinned woman lamenting her lighter-skin lover’s infidelity – transcends one person’s microhistory and functions to poignantly address racism and its effects on African-American macrohistory (Alger). Through key diction choices, including repetition of the words “old” and “all,” Armstrong describes the omnipresent force that is racism and how it has affected the African-American community for generations (1-2; 3-4). In doing so, the singer transforms a song about infidelity into an anthem that directly comments on whites cheating African Americans out of life. As such, Armstrong’s “Black and Blue” is aimed at uniting an African-A...
The characterization of Armand showed that he knew all along about his ethnicity. Armand wanted to cope with his insecurities and feel to his slaves, which is evident in the following example: “…young Aubigny’s rule was strict and under it his Negroes had forgotten, how to be gay as they had been during their old master who was easy going and indulgent in his lifetime” (Chopin 708). Armand was afraid people in the community might get to know about his secret. For example, when Desiree is confronting him, she asks, “Do you want me to go?” (710). Armand replies, “Yes I want you to go” (710). Armand immediately makes up his mind to allow her t...
In the story of “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin, there are many literary themes that can be analyzed such as love, racism, gender inequality, and miscegenation. What this analysis will focus on is primarily on the central male character, Armand Aubigny, and on his views towards racism. More specifically, what this essay will aim to prove is that Armand Aubigny looked down upon the African race to the point where he hated them. One of the biggest driving points to aid this idea is how his family name shaped his behavior and actions according to the societal normalities of his time period. Another important aspect that will be considered is his very relationship towards his slaves in how he treated them cruelly even to the point where he is described as “having the spirit of Satan” (Chopin 3). In addition to this, the reader will also see Armand’s negative reaction to being aware of the implications of his son and wife having mixed blood in where he practically disowns them. With all this culminating to Armand finding out the ugly truth that the race he had treated so horribly is actually a part of his very own blood as well.
The child’s “not white” skin represents the harsh alienation that comes with Armand’s belief that Désirée is black. Loving her before finding out about her assumed ‘flaw’, Armand turns his affection into cruelty immediately once he finds out: “Moreover he no longer loved her, because of the unconscious injury she had brought upon his home and his name”(Chopin,2). The “Unconscious injury” represents her assumed race and because he is so ashamed, he later kicks her out. By using ‘unconscious’ Chopin shows that Désirée’s race is out of her control, therefore, Armand is alienating her for something she cannot change. Similarly, In “The Minister’s Black Veil,” Hawthorne uses dark images . Hawthorne uses other people’s reactions to the black veil during certain events to show just how sinister it truly is: “..the first thing that
Armand never loved his child or his wife; the only thing he loved in life was his prestigious name and the power that came from being a white plantation owner. The birth of his baby and the discovery of his skin color represented the destruction of his marriage and an embarrassment to his social status. I can’t understand how a man could abandon his son and wife in order to maintain his status in society. To keep things in perspective, this story about secrets and self-interest, is about love versus social status. Moreover, it’s also about race and the difference between being born black or white.
... be part of that race. He did not want his well looked upon family name to be ruined. He was portrayed as a man who had it all. He had a reputation to keep maintained and Armand being part black would have ruined it. He owned a plantation and was a slave master. Racism did play a major role because when Armand found out that the baby was mixed everything changed such as Armand’s mood and Desiree’s happiness. She seemed to be very jolly and happy. Armand was also content. He was pleasant to the slaves. After he saw his child growing to be mixed it changed his whole attitude. He did not love the child genuinely because love is unconditional. He was more concerned about the race of the child. This was a great short story to read and it gave me insight on the importance and seriousness of our society back then. I am glad we have overcome these terrible racial matters.
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
“Desiree was happy when she had the baby and Armand was as happy and nice to the slaves then before but after he saw his child growing to be mixed it changed his whole attitude” (Griffin). This shows how the story takes place during slavery time, since the husband was a slave.
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.
He was convinced that his name is “…one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana” (Chopin 48), because of his family name. Armand took advantage of the fact that he was a owner slave and came from a family whose name was well known and he feel like a king. He’s pride was above his actual family and all he wanted was to protect the family name and history at any cost. After his boy was born, because his skin turned darker than it is supposed to be, he assumed that his wife, Desiree, is black and he asked her to leave. He felt that his pride was hurt because of the shame that his wife brought to the family name. He didn’t support that others to find the same thing and begin to discuss and make jokes about him. At this point, he started to show his real character. He felt like “…he no longer loved her, because of the unconscious injury she had brought upon his home and his name” (Chopin 51). These words bring out the true feelings of Armand, that he never loved Desiree, but it was only a fleeting desire, only a lust. According to Chopin, Desiree was a beautiful girl, “For the girl grew to be beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere, - the idol of Valmonde.” (47). Armand loved Desiree only for her outward appearance, not for her character. His love for Desiree and for his son was a superficial love. He destroyed Desiree’s life and he ruined his own life as well because he lost his wife, his baby, and also, he
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.
Armand is shown to be a weak character by his internal conflict himself. Armand’s weakness is initially shown by the way he treats his slaves. Although there is evidence to support that Armand is a man characteristic of the time, he seems to actually have benevolent feelings towards slaves. However, he is too weak express these feelings and instead acts in a rather strict manner: “Young Aubigny’s rule was a strict one, too, and under it his negroes had forgotten how to be gay, as they had been during the old master’s easy-going and indulgent lifetime,” (Chopin 9). In addition to his internal conflict about treatment of slaves, this quotation tells the reader a great deal about Armand’s general weakness as an individual. Besides the fact that his forcefulness is str...
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