Sexism In Desiree's Baby By Kate Chopin

Natanael Gell

Prof. Liz Fritz

English 102

April 17, 2016

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Chopin’s story “Desiree’s Baby demonstrates many points of racism, sexism, prejudice and the perception of characters throughout the story. Throughout the story there are many examples of how Chopin relates to these topics in Desiree’s Baby. The setting plays a huge role throughout the story because it takes place during the time of the Civil War. This was a time where women weren’t allowed to speak their minds and had to follow whatever their husbands decided upon them.

Racism is a major topic throughout "Desiree's Baby", as the color of a person's skin is the main factor that determines the value of their life. In the story, Armand believed he was white and when

Chopin later reveals that Armand was the one who truly was of black dissent and he was the one who had passed those genes down to the baby. But Desiree who has all the right in the world to defend herself cannot simply because of her sex. She is accused of the "unconscious injury she had brought upon [Armand's] home and his name” (Chopin 905). Although Chopin states that Desiree is whiter than Armand and the baby, because of the setting of the story she cannot defend her honor in saying she isn’t black. Peel writes that, "Desiree is immersed in her husband's value system and never stands up to [Armand], not even to interpret the meaning of his dark skin"(235). Desiree knows that Armand is the main reason she even has a name for herself, as other women during this time were controlled by the names of their

She shows how he is perceived in his community and the broad perspective of his character. There are many examples and opinions in of the way Chopin shows Armand’s character. Foy states “Contrasting his father’s easygoing and indulgent manner towards negroes with strict rule of Armand, Chopin warns of a tragic outcome but does not enlighten us until the very end” (223). This meaning that unlike Armand’s father who was cruel and heartless towards he slaves. Armand was more respecting and thoughtful towards them. Also Chopin leaves a bit of foreshadowing in the text above stating there well be a tragic outcome at the end of the play. Peel provides us with some background information as well as, interesting topics she states “The story takes place in an antebellum Creole community ruled by institutions based on apparently clear dualities: master over slave, white over black, and man over woman. Complacently deciphering the unruffled surface of this symbolic system, the characters feel confident that they know who belongs in which category and what signifies membership in each category” (224). In her statement she is stating that each character knows which role they place in society. Armand is a confident white male slave owner who is in control of the system of race, sex, and class at all times. In many instances I agree with “In "Desiree's Baby," Chopin