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
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
Armand knew that Desiree’s decent was questionable and that she would be a perfect scapegoat if color were to show up in a child. When Monsieur Valmonde wanted Armand to fully consider Desiree’s unknown origin, he acted like it did not matter which is very peculiar during that time:
Armand becomes furious because he believes that Desiree?s race is what alters the color of the baby. After that incident, Armand displ...
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
Desiree is miserable. When there is no denying the babies true color as well as Desiree’s mother calling her back home, he agrees she should leave, never once believing the child's genes could be from his
After the married couple had a baby the idea of race is introduced into the story. When Desiree goes to visit her mother four weeks are the baby is born “This is not the baby!.. Yes, the child has grown, has changed;” This quote and moment is important because it reveals two things, it shows that something about the baby is not normal and the reason of it has to deal with Desiree or Armand. When the baby was three months old they had figured out the problem with the baby, it was partly african and because of this their relationship changed. Armand becomes distant and evil like to the slaves he owns.
The theme for Desiree baby is Pride and prejudice, racism and also shame. Having pride with someone you love and having a belief of a race that judges your origin or nationality. The claims of Desiree’s Baby and the key main points are in the story. Also, it shows the impact that society can have on us and how it affects people point of view. “he no longer loved her, because of the unconscious injury she had brought upon his home and his name.”
As the child grows they see that he has colored skin and soon Armand jumped to conclusions accusing Desiree of being the one that had black genes. She tried giving him an explanation about her race, but all he did was
They have a child who is later discovered of being colored. The husband Armand is angered at the color of the baby and tells Desiree to leave with the baby. When she leaves, she comes to the shocking revelation