“I, with a deeper instinct, choose a man who compels my strength, who makes enormous demands on me, who does not doubt my courage or my toughness, who does not believe me naïve or innocent, who has the courage to treat me like a woman.” Anais Nin wrote this quote. This quote symbolizes what Desiree’ thought she had in a husband until he disappointed her by kicking her out of the house upon the realization that their son had black in him. This was a big deal for a wealthy Caucasian man during the 19th century due to the fact that he had a status to uphold. Desiree’ had to obey by his rules and leave as he commanded. Kate Chopin wrote Desiree’s Baby in 1893. During this time period, the rights of Caucasian women were completely different from today. Their roles within society during that time differed within the households, and with their ability to work, own property, vote, and various other things. This disabled women from having a voice even making, what we would call today, easy everyday decisions. Armand Aubigny was a husband, father, landowner, and an owner of slaves. This was a common status of a wealthy Caucasian man during this time period. This status meant that his wife, Desiree’ was not allowed to participate in much. Mostly just expected to make children and tend to whatever the husband needed. …show more content…
Normally men who were wealthy married women from wealthy families who usually were not educated past grade school and lived with their parents until they were married. This cycle continued until about the late 19th century. Those who could or needed to work worked as teachers, writers, domestic workers or factory workers. Becoming a doctor or lawyer was almost unheard of due to the laws created to prevent advancement from happening. In today’s society, women may have to work harder but they are definitely more equal to men than in past
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Show MoreShe is known for her short story, “Désirée’s Baby,” which shows the distinct language and geographical settings of Southern Louisiana before industrialization occurred (Chopin 421). Even though Chopin grew up in St. Louis, she spent over a decade living with her husband in New Orleans, Louisiana. After her husband and mother died, she was left raising six children at the age of thirty-five. In this situation, she realized the ready market for “local color,” or regional, fiction. She decided to approach a literary career from her knowledge of the Creole and Cajun cultures she had come to posess. The background with this short story is slavery. "Désirée’s Baby" was written in 1892 after slavery was abolished but in story takes place during the era of slavery. Racism was really awful at this time and it was very common to see racist people in America. Armand lived in Louisiana with his wife and son and was a slave
Weiner, Lynn Y. From Working Girl to Working Mother: The Female Labor Force in the United States, 1820-1980. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. 1985.
Professor Lavender’s “Notes on the Cult of Domesticity and True Womanhood” states that the ideal woman should have four qualities embodied in her: Piety, Purity, Domesticity, and Submissiveness. This was of course related to the times around the industrial age rather than the modern. Kate Chopin’s primary character in “Desiree’s Baby”, Desiree, meets these standards for the ideal woman of that time.
In “Desiree’s Baby,” a short story by Kate Chopin, there were three major themes: identity, racism, and gender roles. Armand has demonstrated his actual true character. He was a coldblooded, one-sided, and non caring man who was not worthy of Desiree and her kid. Armand broke his marriage promise to Desiree and his parental obligation due to his prejudgment toward the child's race. Chopin also noted a lady’s place in marriage in the mid-nineteenth century. They had nothing to do with money related transactions, political, or social issues. Everything had its place with the man including the
In the short story Desiree’s Baby, written by Kate Chopin, the author shows different variations of love. The story explores a man’s love for his wife, a wife’s love for her husband, and a mother’s love for her child. The purpose of this essay is to examine the different ways the characters portrayed love, as well as which version of love is the ideal version.
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.
During the nineteenth century, Chopin’s era, women were not allowed to vote, attend school or even hold some jobs. A woman’s role was to get married, have children
As the years dragged on in the new nation the roles of men and women became more distinct and further apart for one another. Women were not allowed to go anywhere in public without an escort, they could not hold a position in office let allow vote, and they could only learn the basics of education (reading, writing, and arithmetic). In law the children belonged to the husband and so did the wife’s property and money. The only job women could think about having was being a ‘governess’ which would give other women education.
In conclusion, Chopin’s story explains how life in the late 1800s treated black people, as well as where white people traditionally stood on the social ladder in comparison. Most rich whites owned slaves that were treated poorly, much like Armand’s before the marriage and after the child grew. It also explained that having any black in the family was shameful
Firstly, Desiree had many other options than the one she ultimately choose for example she could’ve just gone home back to her mother and father who could’ve helped her in many ways. And seeing that the Northern United States had mostly banned slavery she could’ve moved up there to
The Victorian era, spurred a momentary sequence of both women and men in search of a prosperous relationship regulated by the demanding etiquettes of the Victorian Society. If these desired qualities were not in possession, a man or woman could be labeled as ‘unsuitable’ in the positions of a husband or a wife. Women suffered mostly throughout the Victorian Era as rights were ceased and the rules and guidelines of society were placed. The Victorian Era caused the rights of women to escalate when the Vision of the “Ideal Woman” was introduced amongst society; producing segregation between men and women to last for years to come.
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 '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 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,
Middle class families were better off economically than their working class counterparts. In these families men worked in jobs considered to be middle class white-collar occupations. Women were therefore staying home and surviving on the man’s salary. With these middle class women staying home along with the smaller amounts of household production, a new type of labor arises. Women in this early 19th century time period become more and more involved in child rearing. The household work for these middle class women is task-oriented and unwaged. This makes them more and more dependent on their husband’s salary and more responsible for the children who were also out of the labor force.