Desiree's Baby Sexism

In Kate Chopin’s story “Desiree’s Baby”, Chopin writes with the central idea of conflict which effects theme. The protagonist, Desiree, is found as a child in the shadows of a pillar. Not knowing her family background, her adopted parents took her in and raised her until she marries the protagonist Armand. As a grown woman in the pre-1860s, Desiree experiences conflict in the themes: sexism and racism.
After Desiree marries Armand, Armand begins to be less aggressive to his slaves than before. This aggression continues to decrease after they have their first child together. However, after three months, conflict begins to arise and Armand begins to act aggressive now that he notices his child’s skin becoming darker. Chopin writes, “Then a strange, an awful change in her husband’s manner, which she dared not ask him to explain. When he spoke to her, it was with averted eyes, from which the old love-light seemed to have gone out. He absented himself from home; and when there, avoided her presence and that of her child, without excuse.” This is an example of Armand’s internal conflict. He is unsure of what to do with Desiree and the child; presuming Desiree is part African American. This internal conflict Armand feels leads further …show more content…
This leads to the themes of sexism and racism in the story. Chopin writes, “He coldly but gently loosened her fingers from about his arm and thrust the hand away from him. “Tell me what it means!” she cried despairingly. “It means,” he answered lightly, “that the child is not white; it means that you are not white.” Armand does not blame himself for the color of his child’s skin because of his known heritage and his proud family name. Therefore, he believes the fault is Desiree’s unknown background. Soon after Armand asks her to leave immediately. She, as a female, must listen and leave without hesitation; thus returning to her parent’s