“Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin is about the effects of deep-rooted prejudices and racism on the life of Desiree Aubigny. Desiree is an orphan found by Monsieur and adopted by the Valmonde family. Courted by Armand, Desiree marries him and they have a baby boy. Desiree and Armand’s once joyful relationship turns bitter when their child is discovered to be black. Armand instantly blames the color of their baby on Desiree because of her unknown lineage. Distraught, Desiree writes to her mother who urges her to come home. During an argument, Armand insists that she and the baby leave. Desiree takes their child and is never seen again. Later, while burning all of Desiree and the baby’s belongings, Armand reads a letter from his mother in which
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Armand is also a static character because although given the opportunity to change, he remains a racist. The narrator's words show how Armand’s prejudices are softened towards blacks. However, this is not a complete change because “the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his dealing with the slaves,” after it was revealed that his child is black, thus reverting him to his old ways (151). Armand’s stagnant belief that miscegenation in his family is unacceptable, sets the foundation for the reason Desiree leaves: she believes she is incapable of being …show more content…
The major characters live in the hierarchy of Louisiana residency as stated by the narrator, “...he could give her one of the oldest and proudest names in Louisiana” (149). The social status of blacks and those of a mixed races being reduced to that of a possession also suggests an era when owning slaves was more common practice. The setting is important because it critiques the class-based and racial prejudices that saturated the attitudes of the pre-Civil War South, and permeated Armand's beliefs. Although during the era when this story takes place those beliefs are widely accepted, through the contrast given between different characters we can see that not everyone believes that ideology. While Armand believes there needs to be a racial hierarchy among the population, Madame Valmonde, Desiree and Monsieur Aubigny are eminently ethical in their refusal to condemn others for their questionable blood. The settings helps us understand the reason behind Armand’s beliefs, the broadly accepted discrimination that is present during the time he is alive. Also through the setting we experience the passage of time, as shown when the narrator says “she had lain asleep, eighteen years before...he had known known her since his father brought him home from Paris, a boy of eight,” and “when the baby was about three months old, Desiree awoke one day” (149-151). This passage of time gives significance to the
Armand is also a static character because although given the opportunity to change, he remains a racist. The narrator's words show how Armand’s prejudices are softened towards blacks. However, this is not a complete change because “the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his dealing with the slaves,” after it was revealed that his child is black, thus reverting him to his old ways (151). Armand’s stagnant belief that miscegenation in his family is unacceptable, sets the foundation for the reason Desiree leaves: she believes she is incapable of being …show more content…
The major characters live in the hierarchy of Louisiana residency as stated by the narrator, “...he could give her one of the oldest and proudest names in Louisiana” (149). The social status of blacks and those of a mixed races being reduced to that of a possession also suggests an era when owning slaves was more common practice. The setting is important because it critiques the class-based and racial prejudices that saturated the attitudes of the pre-Civil War South, and permeated Armand's beliefs. Although during the era when this story takes place those beliefs are widely accepted, through the contrast given between different characters we can see that not everyone believes that ideology. While Armand believes there needs to be a racial hierarchy among the population, Madame Valmonde, Desiree and Monsieur Aubigny are eminently ethical in their refusal to condemn others for their questionable blood. The settings helps us understand the reason behind Armand’s beliefs, the broadly accepted discrimination that is present during the time he is alive. Also through the setting we experience the passage of time, as shown when the narrator says “she had lain asleep, eighteen years before...he had known known her since his father brought him home from Paris, a boy of eight,” and “when the baby was about three months old, Desiree awoke one day” (149-151). This passage of time gives significance to the