In 1892, an author by the name of Kate Chopin 's wrote a story entitled,“Desiree’s Baby.” It was simply written about an adopted girl named Desiree, who married a man named Armand Aubigny. As time passes, they have a son together. Unbeknown to them, their son’s skin tone would reflect how both of them had black ancestors. This would not have posed a problem if the baby was born in a non racist time frame, and if his father was not a slave owner. Several would agree, that the baby of Desiree and Armand is the most sympathetic character from the story because his father chose power over him, and he did not get a chance to live. In the beginning, Armand seems like a decent man. He instantly falls in love with Desiree, despite …show more content…
At one point, Chopin writes, “But Armand’s dark handsome face had not been disfigured by frowns since the day he fell in love with her” (Paragraph 15, Chopin). He was not just happier the moment he married her, but from the moment he saw her. Chopin also mentions how the cruel way he treated his slaves vanished once the baby was born. From this we can see his love for Desiree and even for the baby. This was until, the baby 's real complexion begins to set in at three months. Desiree had a sense that something bad would take place, which was followed by Armand 's distance from her and the baby. In addition to, the revival of his brutal behavior towards the slaves. The passage describes Armand 's new character as though, “the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him,” (Paragraph 16). Which was only a foreshadow of how he would act …show more content…
Desiree made the choice to give into her broken desire of ending her life, and she took her child with her. Unlike Armand, Desiree had an alternative that would have been easy to take. As stated before, once she found out that she was part black, she sent a message to her mother in search of the truth. Her mother replied by saying, “My own Desiree: Come home to Valmonde; back to your mother who loves you. Come with your child” (Paragraph 28). Madame Valmonde knew that Desiree was black from the beginning when it written in paragraph 5 that, “Monsieur grew practical and wanted things well considered: that is, the girls obscure origin.” Although they knew Desiree was black, they still accepted her, and her mother reiterated that through her response in the letter. Desiree just had to open her eyes to see that her spouse may have disowned her, but her mother did not, and she had a home waiting for her. Not once is the L’Abri mentioned as a place of shelter, which is the meaning of the word. Instead, it 's described as a “sad looking place.” The physical description given was, “The roof came down steep and black like a cowl, reaching out beyond the wide galleries that encircled the yellow stuccoed house” (Paragraph 6). The colors of the house can be seen as a symbolic message. When people would look at the house, they saw that it was
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
“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 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...
Armand falls in love with Desiree suddenly, it was described as love at first sight. “the passion that awoke in him that day, when he saw her at the gate , swept along like an avalanche, or like a prairie fire, or like anything that drive headlong over all obstacles.” As for Desiree, “she loved him desperately.” Armand’s version of love seemed very superficial he didn’t know anything about her. He falls in love with her because of her physical qualities, so this explains why his love was taken from her so harshly when
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.
... 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.
She also has to struggle as a woman in a society that sees the people of her sex as mindless objects that are only useful for domestic duties and for the sexual pleasure of men. Her position as a slave only amplified this dehumanization. Within “Désirée’s Baby,” the following line, “‘And the way he cries,’ went on Désirée, ‘is deafening. Armand heard him the other day as far away as La Blanche’s cabin,’” (Chopin 2) implies that Armand and La Blanche have a sexual relationship. While this already hints as the first cracks in Désirée’s and Armand’s marriage, it speaks horrifying volumes considering that La Blanche is a slave with Armand as her master, whose interactions with his slaves were previously described as violent and barbaric. Relating the story to its historical context, slave women were often the target of their masters’ sexual advances and abuse, in which noncompliance could result in ferocious beatings or other severe forms of punishment. Essentially, black women would become concubines to their white masters and were expected to satiate his every desire, regardless of the girl’s age, marital status, or consent (“Master-Slave Relations). With this in mind, Armand’s implied sexual relationship with La Blanche is one where he has all the power and she does not have the option to even say no if she wanted to. Whether or not the relationship is consensual
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...
He would try to stay out of the house, and when he had to be there then he would avoid both Desiree and the child with no reasoning. He also returned to his previous treatment of the slaves. After sometime, Desiree started to notice some of the features that her son had, then pieced it together with Armand’s behavior. It made her realize that her son had black in him, and due to her birth being unknown, she thought it was her. However, just to be sure, she went to Armand who told her that it had to be because of her heritage. In disbelief to this news, Desiree wrote to her mother saying that she could not live with herself if she actually was black. “Armand has told me I am not white. For God 's sake tell them it is not true” (Chopin). This reaction that Desiree had was probably a result of how ingrained in society it was that blacks were not desirable. But after that letter was sent, all she heard back from her mother was to return home. When she went to Armand to inform him that her mother wants her back home, he showed no empathy and sent her away. Armand’s name was already seen as old and full of pride. “What did it matter about a name when he could give her one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana?” (Chopin). He chose to keep the honor his name held then hold onto the wife and child he once