“Desiree’s Baby” is a short story written by Kate Chopin. “Desiree’s Baby” is about a girl named Desiree that was adopted by Madame Valmonde and Monsieur Valmonde.Desiree soon got married to Armand Aubigny and they had a child together. When the baby got older his skin tone got darker and Armand told Desiree and her baby to leave assuming that Desiree had black in her. Armand soon discovered that he was the one with the black heritage and he lost his family because of him. In “ Desiree’s Baby” Kate Chopin uses tone/mood, irony, and theme to create the story dramatic and prominent. The literary device that Chopin uses to strengthen the drama and create the story prominent is irony. Irony is an expression that means something but means the opposite. …show more content…
“... Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.” (Chopin 4 ). Chopin also used verbal irony when Desiree laughed hysterically when she compared her skin with Armand’s skin even though it was a serious and a tense situation. “ It is a lie; it is not true, I am white! Look at my hair, it is brown; and my eyes are gray,Armand, you know they are gray. And my skin is fair,” seizing his wrist. “ Look at my hand; whiter than yours, Armand,” she laughed hysterically.” (Chopin 3). Chopin used two different types of irony to create the story dramatic and prominent. The types of irony that she used in “Desiree’s Baby” is situational and verbal irony. Another literary device that Chopin uses in “Desiree’s Baby” is tone/mood. Mood is expressing with feelings and emotions. In the story Armand’s mood changed quite a lot.In the beginning, Armand’s mood was romantic and affectionate when he saw Desiree against the stone pillar. His mood changed to happy and nonchalant when he married Desiree and had their son. An example of his romantic and affectionate is “Marriage, and later the birth of his son had softened Armand …show more content…
Kate Chopin used a variety of themes in “Desiree’s Baby such as racism,love, blindness,identity, and fate. Chopin first the theme of love in the beginning of the story when Madame Valmonde and Monsieur Valmonde find Desiree and welcome her as their own child even though they did not know nothing about her background. According to the text, “ Madame and Monsieur Valmonde are transformed when they discover an abandoned child and welcome her as their own despite her mysterious and, likely, impoverished background.” This proves that the theme of love was used in the beginning of the story. Chopin also used the love theme when Armand eased up and wanted to marry Desiree without knowing her background. After the theme of love is used the theme of blindness was used. Desiree was blinded of her love for Armand when she didn’t see the cruelty and his flaws. When Armand was in a testy mood Desiree was afraid of him but still loved him. In “Desiree’s Baby”, the love Desiree had for Armand blinded her a lot in the story. It even blinded her from noticing that her baby had black heritage traits. The blindness theme also relates to Armand when his parents blinded him of his own heritage but they did it because they loved him and to protect him. Armand was also blinded by his racial views that he disowned his love for Desiree and the baby. Armand also burned any belongings that were Desiree’s and the baby’s which proves he ha no
“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 the stories “Story of an Hour”, “Everyday Use”, “The Necklace”, and “The Lottery” it is evident that irony was quite a large part of the short story. There is situational irony, which is when the situation turns out differently than expected. Also, dramatic irony is present, which is when you as a reader knows more than the character. The authors seem to base their whole story around irony to surprise their readers.
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...
When I think about starting over, I am often reminded of Armand in the story of “Desiree Baby”. Armand, the protagonist in the story built a bonfire in the efforts of trying to erase away the memory of his wife Desiree, and his son. Armand’s bonfire symbolizes Armand wanting to start over and forget his past. Throughout the short story many elements of symbolism was used to convey a central message those include discussing symbols of racism, social class distinction, and the symbolic elements involving the difference between the gender roles.
Kate Chopin, an acclaimed American author, made waves during the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century by creating various works that often addressed sensitive issues such as the overbearing domestic roles of women and the ingrained prejudice in society. Her famous short story, “Désirée’s Baby,” reflects this idea as it demonstrates how hypocrisy and prejudice destroy the marriage between the main characters Désirée and her husband, Armand. While these two are the catalysts of the events that took place in the story, another person plays a significant role in their tragedy. La Blanche is a slave at L’Abri who Désirée and Armand mention on three separate occasions, but she never appears nor speaks in the story herself. Despite
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.
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 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.
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 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,
The setting has a major role to the ironic ending because it takes place in antembellum South where blacks are not treated equally to whites. There are several hints at where and when the story takes place. First, Armand’s last name, Aubigny, was “one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana” (Chopin 89) which tells us it takes place in Louisiana. Also, Chopin says that Armand owns a plantation and many slaves which wouldn’t have been possible after the Civil War times showing that the story takes place during the antebellum period. The name of Armand’s plantation, L’Abri, is also ironic because it means “the shelter” in French which is ironic for Desiree because it is a bad place for her not a good place. Chopin explains how “there was something in the air menacing her peace”. The story wouldn’t take place in any other time period or location because if it did, Desiree wouldn’t be discriminated for being black, therefore wouldn’t of run of into the bayou along with the baby.
Irony is a useful device for giving stories many unexpected twists and turns. In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," irony is used as an effective literary device. Situational irony is used to show the reader that what is expected to happen sometimes doesn't. Dramatic irony is used to clue the reader in on something that is happening that the characters in the story do not know about. Irony is used throughout Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" through the use of situational irony and the use of dramatic irony.
Writer Kate Chopin uses different types of irony to emphasize Mrs. Mallard’s true feelings about her husband’s death, her marriage, and her life. Irony is defined as “The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect” ("Irony Definition."). Chopin uses dramatic irony to provide the reader with additional information when compared to the characters. Chopin writes, “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease - of joy that kills” (Chopin). This was the main example of dramatic irony from the story. The characters in the story believe and agree with the Doctor that Mrs. Mallard died due to an excess of happiness from seeing her husband alive and well. On the other hand, the reader knows that Mrs. Mallard didn’t die of an overload of joy but died due to the shock, disappointment, fear and possible guilt of seeing her presumably dead husband alive. In addition to dramatic irony, the writer also
One of the first ways Chopin embodies various ironies in “The Story of an Hour” is the representation of verbal irony. Verbal irony is defined as “irony in which a person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning” (“verbal irony”). This type of irony