“Desiree’s baby”, by Kate Chopin, written in 1876. This essay will look at foreshadowing as it takes place throughout each phase of the story. Whereby, the narrator provides a word or phrases of the future events in the story to come without revealing the ending. However, foreshadowing will give you significant clues that will bring all the pieces of the story together, in the end. To help explain foreshadowing, it is referred to as a literary device used in writing. This story had taken place in Louisiana, on the plantation's Valmonde and L’Abre, in the late nineteenth-century. The narrator also explores the varying positions of race and power, with upper-class Southern families, of the time. In "Desiree's Baby", foreshadowing will be revealed showing the patrimony of the story, and Armand’s place in it. More specifically, the foreshadowing should reveal that, Armand, being well aware of his past. Also, knowing any promonint southern man needed to marry and have a strong family. Therefore, when he married Desiree he knew he wanted to keep his family name and his heritage as well as keeping his prominent status. Desiree having and unknown past, leaving her to be the perfect victim for his plan. Thus, being able to keep his secret forever buried, Or could he be just a victim himself. In the …show more content…
beginning, taking a looking at the characters and their connections in the story. Desiree was abandoned on Valmonde plantation where she was found by Madame Valmonde, who, after sometimes stated, “that Desiree had been sent to her by a beneficent Providence to be the child of her affection” (Chopin, 1888, p. ). Thus, showing she loved this child no matter what. Desiree had no past to be pondered over. This unknown and no named child would grow up to be beautiful and gentle the perfect idol of Valmonde. (Chopin, 1888) This unconditional love of Madam Valmonde left no room for judgment in Desiree's past. She would then catch the eye of a prominent, well-known plantation owner Armand Aubigny. In the story it would seem to be love at first sight as narrator exhibits here, stating, Armand Aubigny was taken back by Desiree, as the narrator states, “all the Aubignys fell in love as if struck by a pistol shot” (Chopin, 1888, p. ). Thus, they would marry and move to the L’Abri plantation, just a few miles away from her home. . Another instance of foreshadowing will start revealing itself in the story.
The revealing statement here is when the narrator tells the readers about Armand’s past, as narrator states here, “he had known her since his father brought him home from Paris, a boy of eight, after his mother died there” (Chopin, 1888, p. ). Thus, giving to the fact Armond had knowledge of his background. He had left Paris with his father when he was eight; after his mother had died. (Chopin,1888) Furthermore, this was just the beginning of the revealing foreshadowing that will lead readers to question the story. Was this true love or just a way for Armand to carry out a calculated
plan? Now, After moving in with Armond, a baby boy was born. Now let us take a look at the relationships with Armond, the baby, and Desiree. along with a bit of history and moral at the plantation. Young Aubigny's had always been strict with the negros, they seem to have forgotten how to be happy. (Chopin, 1888) Unlike their old master who was easy going with the servants and running the plantation. Now this leads readers to a new member of the family, a baby boy. Armand, seemed to be proud of his son, as Desiree has expressed here," Armand is the proudest father in the parish,"(Chopin, 1888, p). He had changed in a few ways after the birth of his son. He became more relaxed with the servants and fewer punishments. This was as Desiree had seen things at that time. The narrator expressed this when it was stated,"Marriage, and later the birth of his son had softened Armand Aubigny"( Chopin, 1888, p) Things seemed to be going as planned for Armand. In fact, another foreshadowing moment of Armand's tainted blood will be revealed. During the visit from Madam Valmonde, she had come to visit Desiree and her new baby boy. Once at the plantation. She was eager to see the baby, she had not seen him or Desiree for weeks. When Madam Valmande has finished affectionately greeting Desiree, she looks over at the baby. She expresses with a sudden shock, as the narrator has conveyed here,“This is not the baby” (Chopin, 1888, p. )! Desiree brushed off her mother's comments with, the baby has only gotten bigger since you last saw him. The revealing foreshadow was when the narrator expresses by writing,"Madame Valmondé had never removed her eyes from the child. She lifted it and walked with it over to the window that was lightest"(Chopin. 1888, p. ). This in itself draws questions. The changes that had taken place in Armand when the baby was three months old. Desiree knew things were different on the plantation. She had this overwhelming feeling something was wrong. She just was not sure what it was. The changes in Armand and the whispers that were so confusing amongst the servants. Her husband was lashing out at them also. She felt like everything had changed. as the narrator states about Armand,"Then a strange, an awful change in her husband’s manner, which she dared not ask him to explain"(Chopin, 1888,p). The cold in his eyes when he looked at her. He was also avoiding her and the baby with no reason for it.(Chopin, 1888) This was peculiar and a major change from when the baby boy was first born. This is a major point also in the story when looking at the foreshadowing that has occurred already. Leading into the final parts of our story. The baby had grown; he was three months old now. He had changed as most babies do. However, something peculiar happened that day. Desiree had looked over at the quadroon boys, half-naked he was fanning the baby to keep him cool. As she could only stare at her son, in seeing the two boys she became overwhelmed with confusion and wonder. She was now questioning in her mind the appearance of the child, that of his skin color. The narrator stated," Désirée’s eyes had been fixed absently and sadly upon the baby". (Chopin, 1888, p) Therefore, she immediately called to Armand, to ask him what this meant. She had grabbed his wrist begging for an answer. Her baby looks different she, asked him. Armand state,"“that the child is not white; it means that you are not white” (Chopin, 1888,p. ). Desiree, exclaimed to her husband," “Look at my hand; whiter than yours, Armand"(Chopin, 1888,p). In Fact, this is just another foreshadow that bring more evidence to what knowledge Armand may have had. Even though, She knew this could not be true and if I was he could not live she would need to die. She then wrote a letter to Madam Valmonde, asking her if this was true or not. The return letter from Madam Valmonde just said to come home. She asked Armand if she should leave or stay. The response from Armand was,"“Yes, I want you to go"(Chopin, 1888,p ). Desiree was sad as she picked up her baby and left the plantation with her nightgown on into the cotton fields. She was never seen again. As for Armand, he wanted to clear out any evidence that Desiree or the baby ever existed in his life. He burned everything even the babies cradle. More importantly, Armand went to the draw where he had had love letters from Desiree, also pulling out letters that his mother had written as narrator states, his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery"( Chopin, 1888, p ) Armand, had these letters with him the whole time and knew they had been there with the letters from Desiree. Overall, in the story, there was an overwhelming foreshadowing revealing that Armand knew about his heritage. This was a way for Armand to let Desiree take all the disgrace and shame that he would have if they only knew the truth. Desiree was in fact the victim of this horrific tragedy and part of a deceptive scheme of betrayal and death. The foreshadowing was well noted throughout the story which enable readers to have a clear view of the ending. Armond kept his name, leaving Desiree's name and family tarnished forever.
There is a lot to talk about Armand character in the short story of Desiree’s baby. In the beginning of the story, he is such a great person he loves Desiree. This quote “beautiful and gentle” shows that Armand is fall in love with her. However, his character change, when he found out that baby wasn’t white. His character of being a good husband to a cruel husband. The story clearly explains his initial character and final character. I believe he is not pitiable at all because he shows his cruelty character toward Desiree and not only that, he cares about his social standing, which motivates him. When he bought “fine clothing and layettle” this shows a symbolic object of wealth and his possession of Desiree. He wouldn’t act in a cruel way if
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’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.
In the short story Desiree’s Baby by Kate Chopin, there are many examples of foreshadowing that provides the reader with insight on the events to come. Chopin constantly hints at the importance of lineage and origin which informs the readers that it will play a large part within the plot. Significant families in the South take pride in their heritage and name which are seemingly important to Armand; important enough to abandon his wife and child. In the ending, it is revealed to the readers that Armand is the one who is not completely white (Chopin 5). The story does not tell whether Armand knew the entire time or he was just finding out from reading the letter. There are many times throughout Desiree’s Baby that infers that Armand knew about where he came from before he even met Desiree.
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...
Kate Chopin was one of the leading female writers of her time and did so with style and grace. Chopin used unconventional female characters often as the leading roles in her stories, which was unusual in late 1800 and early 1900 writings. Many people linchpin the significant roles of the powerful women in her stories, but the men played a very salient role in the empowerment of these women. In both of Chopin’s famous short stories, “The Story of an Hour” and “Desiree’s Baby” both have men who share similar traits and different traits as characters. In “The Story of an Hour” Chopin’s main male character, Brently Mallard, is indirectly characterized, while in “Desiree’s Baby” Chopin’s main male character, Armand Aubigny, is directly characterized.
...t not judge the people by looking at their races, like the old says" don't judge a book by its cover. In the reading, the pride of Armand was greater than the love for his wife and their baby, which destroyed Desiree and their baby's life and led to a sad ending.
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.
Toth, Emily. "Kate Chopin and Literary Convention: 'Désirée's Baby,'." in Southern Studies 20.2 (Summer 1981): 201-208. Rpt. in Short Stories for Students. Ed. Jennifer Smith. Vol. 13. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001. Literature Resource Center. Web. 01 Mar. 2014.
“Desiree Baby” by Kate Chopin is a very thought provoking short story that deals with racism, prejudice, and love. The story takes place in southern Louisiana, where Armand, a prominent landowner, marries a girl of unknown origin named Desiree. The story has a twist when their baby is born and is discovered to be of mixed race. Armand knew all along that he was OF mixed race, and I will prove it by analyzing characterization, diction, and imagery.
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.
“Tell me what it means!” she cried despairingly.” It means,” he answered lightly, “that the child is not white; it means that you are not white” (Chopin, p. 192). Kate Chopin's "Desiree's Baby" is a well-known short story. “In her life, Kate Chopin actively searched for female spiritual emancipation and expressed it in her writing”(Deter, 2000). Throughout the story, Kate Chopin uses symbolism to convey her themes of racial predisposition, unequal gender roles, and social ladder in a society. The characters and the setting in this short story help provide the readers with more understanding of how patriarchal our society is at that time.
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,
... 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.
“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.