In the short story, Desiree’s Baby, written by Kate Chopin there is a sense of karma and consequences that is faced in the story. Whites are better than blacks within the context of the story during this time era. In this short story characters have to face reality. Miscegenation was the way society sees itself in New orleans. Armand is from the same group of human beings that he oppresses which is ironic. “He hasn’t punished one of them- not one of them- since the baby is born” (186). Desiree is convincing herself that Armand actually loves and is devoting himself to his new family. Armand seemed so happy to have a male child that he even was more lenient on the slaves and didn’t punish them at all. “When she reached L’Abri she shuddered at
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After he marries Désirée, they live at L’Abri. His family history has an african decent. Yes there is an mystery to his heritage. His dad, Mom, and himself lived in Paris until the mother died. Armand was eight years old at the time. His father then brought the boy to Louisiana. Armand inherited L'Abri after Monsieur Aubigny died. "night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery(186). He is defined by his white patriarchy. Armand is an loving husband. He does owns slaves and he treats them well. He treat them well and make sure that they are well taken care of. Desiree’s death is necessary for her because she feels the shame and pain of her unknown origins and therefore believes that she is the reason that the baby has African features. “It means,” he answered lightly, “that the child is not white; it means that you are not white”(187). Desiree's own feelings of inadequacy are what spur her to take the drastic action of walking into the swamp with her baby. “After it was dealt he felt like a remorseless murderer”(187). He thought Almighty God had dealt cruelly and unjustly with him and felt, somehow, that he was paying him back in kind when he stabbed thus into his wife's soul. “as if struck by a pistol shot”(p 185). Moreover he no longer loved her, …show more content…
The burning means a new start to Armand. He is burning all his history with his wife and his kid. He doesn't want to remember anything. He burns his letters from Desiree because they are in fact the truth and he doesn't want to remember any memory of her. The letter from his mother states that he is black. This makes him think of himself differently. He thinks different because his family is the oldest and most known white family and him coming out black would be a disgrace. Armand reaction to his mother letter wasn't reveled. “as if struck by a pistol shot”(p 185). When it all boils down, it comes out that he is black and that his wife is not the reason why the baby was black. “that the child is not white; it means that you are not white”(187). He has black in his blood and that is the reason why his baby is black. We know that he has an african decent. “After it was dealt he felt like a remorseless murderer”(187). All along he thought he was white and in reality his mother had black in her. He didn't want anyone to know that he has black ancestors because he would lose respect from everyone around
After he marries Désirée, they live at L’Abri. His family history has an african decent. Yes there is an mystery to his heritage. His dad, Mom, and himself lived in Paris until the mother died. Armand was eight years old at the time. His father then brought the boy to Louisiana. Armand inherited L'Abri after Monsieur Aubigny died. "night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery(186). He is defined by his white patriarchy. Armand is an loving husband. He does owns slaves and he treats them well. He treat them well and make sure that they are well taken care of. Desiree’s death is necessary for her because she feels the shame and pain of her unknown origins and therefore believes that she is the reason that the baby has African features. “It means,” he answered lightly, “that the child is not white; it means that you are not white”(187). Desiree's own feelings of inadequacy are what spur her to take the drastic action of walking into the swamp with her baby. “After it was dealt he felt like a remorseless murderer”(187). He thought Almighty God had dealt cruelly and unjustly with him and felt, somehow, that he was paying him back in kind when he stabbed thus into his wife's soul. “as if struck by a pistol shot”(p 185). Moreover he no longer loved her, …show more content…
The burning means a new start to Armand. He is burning all his history with his wife and his kid. He doesn't want to remember anything. He burns his letters from Desiree because they are in fact the truth and he doesn't want to remember any memory of her. The letter from his mother states that he is black. This makes him think of himself differently. He thinks different because his family is the oldest and most known white family and him coming out black would be a disgrace. Armand reaction to his mother letter wasn't reveled. “as if struck by a pistol shot”(p 185). When it all boils down, it comes out that he is black and that his wife is not the reason why the baby was black. “that the child is not white; it means that you are not white”(187). He has black in his blood and that is the reason why his baby is black. We know that he has an african decent. “After it was dealt he felt like a remorseless murderer”(187). All along he thought he was white and in reality his mother had black in her. He didn't want anyone to know that he has black ancestors because he would lose respect from everyone around