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Desiree's baby by kate chopin literary devices
Desiree's baby by kate chopin literary devices
Give me a written literary analysis on Desiree baby by kate chopin
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Kate Chopin is the writer of a brilliant short story entitled "Désirée 's Baby." The story focuses on two individuals that fall in love, marry, and have a baby together. After Desiree 's husband begins to believe that she has ancestors that are black, her husband Armand, isolates himself and eventually kicks them out of his own house.There are many factors that play a role in the development of identity. Race/Ethnicity, societal beliefs, and religion are these factors. In the story "Désirée 's Baby," Chopin offers an opportunity to analysis the impact of these on identity development.
"Désirée 's Baby" is about a woman that is not aware of her background because she was adopted into a wealthy Southern family; therefore, she meets the handsome
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(Maku). Racism in the South was a constant factor that made a family background and heritage of great importance. Race plays a key role in the story "Désirée 's Baby" ' because first of all Désirée does not even know her race, she just assumes that she is white and so does everyone else all because she looks white. In "Désirée 's Baby" Armand kicks "Désirée and the child out of his house because he said she was part black. Considering how "Désirée did not know anything she believed it in a way she left questioning her own identity of who she really is; because the whole time she was growing up she assumed she was white. Race also is the whole reason Désirée was kicked out of Armand 's house because she was "supposedly" half black. Back in history being half black or even being black was frowned upon. In the story " 'It means, ' he answered lightly, 'that the child is not white; it means that you are not white '" showing his prejudice against black people is deeply rooted (Chopin 2). This is a result of a strongly held superiority of Armand 's ethnic group, "Ethnicity, on the other hand, has traditionally been defined in terms of characteristics such as common language, culture, and national origin" (Quintana). Désirée is a woman that does not know anything about her background all due to her being adopted by a nice family. Even the family that had adopted her did not even know …show more content…
He thinks he comes from a high income and a very prestigious family. In the story "Désirée 's Baby" Armand says that " What did it matter about a name when he could give her one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana?" this shows that he is very proud of his own name (Chopin 1). Even later on in the story, Désirée states that "Oh, Armand is the proudest father in the parish, I believe, chiefly because it is a boy, to bear his name; though he says not ,---- that he would have loved a girl as well. But I know is n 't true I know he says that to please me"(Chopin 2). Even Désirée knows that he is proud of his heritage and that he now has a son to carry on his prestigious name. In all reality, however, he finds out that he never even knew his background all
“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.
Desiree’s Baby takes place in the Antebellum Period (1789-1849) where slavery was starting to become less common. Never the less slavery was still prominent in the southern states such as Louisiana, which is where the story takes place. Armand, a plantation owner, treated his slaves as many plantation owners did, with anger, punishment, degradation, and humiliation, which were accomplished through his words and actions.
Their family, specially Désirée, felt conflicted due to the color of her child’s skin and the divided country in which they were living in. Désirée was okay with her child’s skin, because she loved him unconditionally. Her husband was good at hiding it, but he eventually showed his true colors. And, even though her family didn’t show it, the child 's skin color bothered them significantly. So, tension was significant as well. The one who felt it the most was Désirée, because she was the one who gave birth to a black child. She felt rejection and hatred towards herself, specially from her husband. He thought she had African American blood running through her veins or that she had been unfaithful to him. Even if he did not think that was possible, he still saw her as impure and unclean because of his belief that African American blood ran through her
“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.
According to the Encyclopedia of Women’s Health, education is the most popular indicator of high socioeconomic status. This means that having an education yields being capable of intellect in order to manage situations with ease. With that being said, in Desiree’s baby, do readers see any hint of Desiree being well educated as opposed to Armand who traveled and learned with his father? At one point Chopin wrote, “When she could hold a pen in her hand…” this specific line could be argued as to say that Desiree was distressed from learning of her husband’s accusation of her that she had to collect herself, this is true. However, it’s the dialect that was chosen for Desiree that tells readers that the character is of low social status, “…I cannot be so unhappy, and live.” This line presents itself with immaturity as to suggest that no, she did not have proper intellect to handle such situation maturely. But what does Chopin mean by ‘live’? Is she referring...
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.
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.
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
This foreshadowing proves that Desiree’s origin will matter later and that Armand wanted Desiree because of her unknown descent. During that time, it was very important who a person married. Armand not caring about where she came from seems weird in a sense that preserving a family’s name was vital to families like his.
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.
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.
...the theme that weak individuals succumb to societal norms regardless of their own feelings. Armand shows that he is a weak character, yet there are signs that some of his beliefs are progressive. However, because of the weakness in his personality, Armand is unable to express these beliefs. Rather, he is forced to destroy something of great importance to himself simply because he is too weak to stand up for his beliefs. Through the ironic ending in which Armand discovers that he is the donor of the black gene, Chopin teaches the danger of being a weak individual: Armand is punished for his weakness by Desiree, a woman he once loved, leaving while at the same time bearing the knowledge that he is of a race that he himself hates. Chopin presents the challenge to all humans to strive for individuality and self-esteem, lest they too fall victim to their own weaknesses.
“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.