Kate Chopin’s Short Story Desiree’s Baby

882 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: kate chopin life and personal influence

Kate Chopin’s Short Story “Desiree’s Baby”

In Kate Chopin’s short story, “Desiree’s Baby”, she demonstrates how racism played a major part in people’s lives in the 1800’s. Kate Chopin is extremely successful in getting her readers to feel disturbed by the events in the story. Through words and images, the reader feels touched by the story, either by relating to it at some points or when confronted with things we frequently decide to ignore in the world: the evil some human beings are capable of possessing.

Chopin introduces the story with pleasant images and events; she enchants the reader with fairy tales. A woman who cannot have children is blessed with the most “beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere” (31) of all girls, whom she believes “had been sent to her by a beneficent Providence to be the child of her affection” (31). A real Cinderella story becomes true when a girl who holds the burden of not knowing where she came from is now the object of desire of the handsome and wealthy Armand Aubigny, a man who’s so in love that ignores the fact of her obscure origin. According to Armand, “what did it matter about a name when he could give her one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana?” (31). Armand’s love is such that he orders the “corbeille” from Paris, and impatiently waits on it to marry the woman he desires. Chopin goes on with the fantasy in her successful attempt to soften the readers’ hearts. Desiree has a baby and makes Armand “the prou...

Show More
Related

  • Désirée’s Baby: Criticism of the One-Drop Rule

    1654 Words  | 4 Pages

    Chopin sets the context for her argument by Placing Désirée in an environment where she can be made black easily, but with significant consequences. Despite Désirée’s ability to effortlessly assimilate into southern society, taking on the role of the “beautiful, gentle, affectionate and sincere” southern belle, the story never loses sight of her “obscure origin” (#). As a result, Désirée is not given the opportunity to prove h...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Mark Twain's The Celebrated Jumping Frog Of Calveras County

    821 Words  | 2 Pages

    When Désirée had the baby, her mother noticed immediately that something was wrong with the baby; Madame Valmonde screamed “This is not the baby!” It wasn’t until when the baby was 3 months old that Désirée noticed the appearance of the baby and demanded an answer from Armand. Armand noticed this early already, so he told Désirée that she was at fault for the baby being black, “It means,” he answered lightly, “that the child is not white; it means that you are not white” (424). Désirée believed this because no one knew of her past. This distinctly shows how Désirée’s character lives to learn how close racism and male dominance can get in Southern life. For instance, when Armand says, “The child is not white; it means that you are not white” (424). This is when Armand realizes his wife is not the same as he is, and from this moment on, wants nothing to do with either her or their child. In the beginning of the story, Armand was deeply in love with Désirée, and still was, until the moment he realized their baby was not white. This is a glimpse of how life was in the South. Chopin offers a compelling vision of the class-based and racial prejudice of the South. As many critics would agree, Chopin’s stories have “the freshness which springs from an unexplored field—the quaint and picturesque life among the Creole and Acadian folk of the

    Read More

  • Women Struggling with their Marriages in Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" and "Desiree's Baby"

    1199 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kate Chopin is an American author who wrote two novels and about a hundred short stories in the 1890s. Most of her fiction is set in Louisiana and most of her work focuses on the lives of intelligent women. Two widely known short stories that Chopin wrote are The Story of an Hour and Desiree’s Baby. Both stories are about women who have struggling relationships with their husbands.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Desiree's Baby By Kate Chopin

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Analysis of Desiree Baby by Kate Chopin

    546 Words  | 2 Pages

    “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.

    Read More

  • Kate Chopin's Desiree's Baby

    1395 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Feminist Perspectives in a Story of an Hour

    979 Words  | 2 Pages

    A Woman Far Ahead of Her Time, by Ann Bail Howard, discusses the nature of the female characters in Kate Chopin’s novel’s and short stories. Howard suggests that the women in Chopin’s stories are longing for independence and feel torn between the feminine duties of a married woman and the freedom associated with self-reliance. Howard’s view is correct to a point, but Chopin’s female characters can be viewed as more radically feminist than Howard realizes. Rather than simply being torn between independent and dependant versions of her personality, “The Story of an Hour’s” Mrs. Mallard actually rejoices in her newfound freedom, and, in the culmination of the story, the position of the woman has actually been elevated above that of the man, suggesting a much more radically feminist reading than Howard cares to persue.

    Read More

  • Desiree's Baby Critical Analysis Essay

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Foreshadowing in Desiree’s Baby by Kate Chopin

    667 Words  | 2 Pages

    Monsieur Valmonde grew practical and wanted things well considered: that is, the girl’s obscure origin. Armand looked into her eyes and did not care. He was reminded that she was nameless. Why did it matter about a name when he could give her one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana? (Chopin)

    Read More

  • Societal Boundaries in Kate Chopin's The Story of an Hour and Desiree's Baby

    1913 Words  | 4 Pages

    As humans, we live our life within the boundaries of our belief systems and moral guidelines we were raised with. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and “Desiree’s Baby” tells the story of two women who live according to those societal boundaries.

    Read More

  • Psychologicalism In Desiree's Baby

    1002 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles in Chopin's Desiree's Baby and A Point at Issue

    1326 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Lust And Love In Desiree's Baby, By Kate Chopin

    938 Words  | 2 Pages

    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,

    Read More

  • Man’s Domination Over Woman in Kate Chopin's Desiree's Baby

    757 Words  | 2 Pages

    Differences between people create conflicts between people.  This is especially true between men and women, since throughout history society has viewed women as subservient to men.  Kate Chopin’s feminist short story, Desiree’s Baby, illustrates man’s domination over woman.  Since Desiree meekly accepts being ruled by Armand, and Armand regards Desiree as his possession, the master/slave relationship that exists between Armand and Desiree is undeniable.

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Women In 'Desiree Baby' By Kate Chopin

    1152 Words  | 3 Pages

    Back in the old days, women were practically enslaved in marriages. Meaning they really did not have no rights and their masters were their own husbands. Kate Chopin author of many different short stories, wrote a few stories where the female character shows signs of her being in enslaved marriage. Kate Chopin stories have a common theme of, women suffering from enslaved in a marriage and denial of any type of freedom. To prove this, in Kate Chopin stories it shows, One women cheating and dishonoring her current husband with one of her old lover 's “The storm”. Second another character was happy when she found her husband was supposedly reported dead. “Story of an hour”. And lastly “Desiree’s Baby” about a woman who was mistreated by her husband

    Read More

More about Kate Chopin’s Short Story Desiree’s Baby

Open Document