In the early twentieth century, marriage was a sacred and sanctified hold between a man and a woman with strict social mores and guidelines any married couple was expected to abide by. For example, one main expectation of a man and wife is that the husband is the one to go out and gather the necessities needed for a proper home and family such as food, income, and security. Another example would be that all wives were expected to cater to their husbands’ each and every request, all while smoothly supervising the operations of the household. Most women of this time this time were treated as unimaginative beings whom could not think or make logical and constructive decisions. However, the famous author Kate Chopin, disregarded that notion greatly.
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For the first part of the story, one can see how happy Armand makes Desiree. Though Armand treats everybody somewhat nice after Desiree has his baby, he still has the final say in what goes on in his living quarters which would eventually turn his judgment into turmoil. Desiree was subject to Armand’s power and order just as his slaves were. For example, Armand had a slave mistress whom he fornicated with many times and because he owned her and had all the power of his land, even his wife had to live with this distasteful deed. This and along with other now frowned upon activities is what made a marriage of this time setting, normal. The main importance to Desiree was her marriage and how Armand treated her and their baby. Later in the story, Armand disowns the child as well as Desiree, when her entire awareness of her child’s racial identity comes to a crushing reality. For a perfect plantation and slave owning family to uphold its royal formality amongst all people of society, each member of the family had to have equal or more value. Therefore, a black baby meant the very opposite, thus tarnishing Desiree’s marriage. Readers may have thought that Desiree was going to beg and plead to stay with Armand or go back home to her mother, however she took matters into her own hands and just left to follow her own
For the first part of the story, one can see how happy Armand makes Desiree. Though Armand treats everybody somewhat nice after Desiree has his baby, he still has the final say in what goes on in his living quarters which would eventually turn his judgment into turmoil. Desiree was subject to Armand’s power and order just as his slaves were. For example, Armand had a slave mistress whom he fornicated with many times and because he owned her and had all the power of his land, even his wife had to live with this distasteful deed. This and along with other now frowned upon activities is what made a marriage of this time setting, normal. The main importance to Desiree was her marriage and how Armand treated her and their baby. Later in the story, Armand disowns the child as well as Desiree, when her entire awareness of her child’s racial identity comes to a crushing reality. For a perfect plantation and slave owning family to uphold its royal formality amongst all people of society, each member of the family had to have equal or more value. Therefore, a black baby meant the very opposite, thus tarnishing Desiree’s marriage. Readers may have thought that Desiree was going to beg and plead to stay with Armand or go back home to her mother, however she took matters into her own hands and just left to follow her own