The short story “Desiree’s Baby” was written by Kate Chopin. Desiree was found lying in the shadow of a stone pillar. She grew older and married a wealthy man named Armand.Then later they had a child together, but other people who saw the baby had noticed it was different. They notice that his skin color is not white.The baby had a darker skin tone and that seemed to be a problem to Armand, who was considered a white man. Armand starts to believe that the baby’s skin color is caused by Desiree’s heritage since nobody knew where she was from. So he blames her for what has happened. Desiree sends Madame Valmonde a letter asking for help. Madame Valmonde responds saying she can come back to her estate. Desiree mentions to Armand what she had said …show more content…
Usually used in Greek tragedy. This means characters actions and words are known by the reader although not known by the character. For instance, in the story when Armand discovered that all along his heredity was African American after sending Desiree and her baby away. The mistake Armand did when blaming his wife not truly knowing where she was from had caused him. Over all he was a man who would mistreat his slaves that were his own heritage. At the end of the story his mother's letter states”our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery”(Chopin 2) After noticing this letter from his mother he throws it in the fire. He tried to get rid of all evidence that could make his true identity come to light. Armand won’t change even though he is aware of his mixed heritage. This explains the irony of the short story in Desiree's baby by which they used to show racial discrimination and how this separated their family. (AP English Irony …show more content…
In the short story their is some symbolism being used one of the symbols was the October sunset which meant the ending of Desiree’s marriage to Armand.The author states “It was an October afternoon: the was just sinking.”(chopin 2) and then”She disappeared among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the banks of the deep, sluggish bayou; and she did not come back again”( Chopin 2) The bonfire Armand had used to destroy all desiree’s belongings was a symbol of forgetting the memories of Desiree and the baby. Although I believe that the bonfire does not only have to do with him forgetting desiree but caused him to find out the misjudgement he has done towards her by his mother’s letter.The understanding of the L’Abri was meant to mean unhappiness which symbolized Armand’s dark moods. How the author Chopin describes their home was as a Gothic feel, shadow cast by trees, and a low roof. The wealth of Armand’s family has been because of the enslavement of African Americans, and how he was cruel to them in his own estate. Armand had bought desiree fine clothes and women accessories from Paris representing his riches also representing her as his most beautiful possession, but then after finding out what had happened made him be against desiree and burned everything he had given her.” In the center of the smoothly swept back yard was a great
Throughout the story we are able to see that race and skin color is serious problem. Armand was in love with Desiree, but then he care more about having child with color eyes and light skin color. Even thought his mom wasn’t white, he ignores that and blames Desiree for not giving
“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.
... 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.
Kate Chopin's use of irony in the story is particularly effective. She points out the various aspects that prejudice is unfair to the characters in her story. If Desiree had been the one of mixed race then she could have been considered by as the innocent heroine. Consequently, because Armand is the source of the suspect blood, Desiree becomes totally the victim.
“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.
One day, when the baby is three months old, Desiree wakes up in the morning with the feeling that her sense of peace will soon come to an end. She has noticed the apprehensive moods of the slaves as well as the unusual visits from her neighbors who can’t give her an explanation on why they decided to stop by. Then Armand does a complete turn around and becomes very distance with his wife. He no longer looks directly at Desiree and he goes out of his way to avoid her. He returns to his cruel treatment of his slaves.
But that changed when their baby boy was born, the baby skin color appeared to be “black”. Armand love for Desiree has not been the same since their son was born, which led to a tragedy. The author, Kate Chopin uses symbolism to give readers clues as of why the baby appeared a darker skin tone than his parents.
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,
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.
Kate Chopin’s Desiree’s Baby is about a woman named Desiree and her husband Armand having a child and the problems that came with that. Both partners believed that they were white but three months after the birth the baby was showing clear signs that it is not just white. Armand being the wealthier and more powerful person in the relationship angrily tells Desiree that she is not white but she is confided that she is indeed white. Desiree writes her mother for help but her mother just tells her to come back home because she is still loved.
In Desiree baby the story contains about love, pride and race. The story has a historical background. However, this story was written in 1892 by Kate Chopin, but took place during the era of slavery. In the story, Armand is an owner in Louisiana in his father’s plantations. which then allows him to
“Desiree’s Baby” is a short story that was written by Kate Chopin. It is about a woman that was found by the side of the road as a baby by a wealthy French family. The family thought of it as a gift from God because they were not able to have children of their own. One day when Desiree grew up, her neighbor Armand Aubigny sees her outside by a gate and immediately falls in love with her, despite the protests from her wealthy family. Desiree and Armand are passionate about their love and immediately get married and have a child.
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 the early 1800’s the treatment of blacks in America was horrible because of slavery. It caused many countries to turn blind eyes towards the young nation and people in the nation were sometimes disgusted by their southern brethrens treatment of these people(dunaway). The story “Desiree's Baby” is about a adopted child that was named Desiree by a French family. One day a plantation owner who had a child named Armand comes to the home of Desiree with Armand. When Armand sees desiree at the gate of the house he fell in love with her.
“Desiree’s Baby”, written by Kate Chopin, takes place in the late 1800s, during a time of class and racial conflict. The story highlights just where blacks stood in society by sharing the treatment that blacks got as slaves, as well as the pride that the white citizens have over themselves. Blacks were typically seen in a much lower tier then their white counter parts, and to have them both on the same level is unfathomable. “Desiree’s Baby” uses pride to show that people tend to care more about themselves and aren’t who they say they are.