Analysis Of Dèsirèe's Baby By Kate Chopin

In the antebellum years of the South, one’s fate was determined by race. The white people of the Old South were raised with prejudice against any who were of a non-white heritage. All association of any kind between races was abominable. If there was any doubt or questioning of one’s heritage, she would be on the receiving of much gossip. In the story “Dèsirèe’s Baby” by Kate Chopin, when Monsieur Valmondè picked up the young Dèsirèe there was gossip and “speculation” of the child’s background (Chopin 902). Because one’s race was paramount in the South, any affiliation with a different race was abhorrent, but within a prominent family, it would be scandalous. When Dèsirèe was found at the entrance of Monsieur Valmondè’s plantation, there was much questioning of her ancestry. While Madame Valmondè was quick to say that she was “sent to her by a beneficent Providence to be the child of her affection,” the rumors lingered. Although, in that time it was not uncommon for slave owners to have relations with some of their slaves, it was despised to have them be a part of the family. Because of the unknown origin of Dèsirèe, Valmondè was concerned about her marriage to Armand Aubigny (Chopin 902). If it was proven that she was of a non-white race, it would ruin Aubigny’s reputation and status to not have …show more content…
If a white family had any affiliation with people of another race, it would be detrimental to their public image. Armand’s cruel disposition to Dèsirèe and their child is caused by his belief that his wife is of a different race; although, it had been Armand himself that was of a mixed origin. The burning of both Dèsirèe’s and the baby’s belongings give an image that he is burning away his and Dèsirèe’s secret, never to be spoken of again (Chopin 905). The ways of the antebellum South involving race were cruel and ruined the lives of many people both young and