In the nineteenth century, it was a difficult time for many women and blacks because of the domination of white men over them. The social and economic hardships they faced are constant reminders of this domination. The social ideology in the story “Desiree’s Baby” is powerful, dangerous and held no escape for any character. In this short story, Desiree, who is the protagonist, finds herself at odds with what she wants in life and receives no satisfaction in the end. Kate Chopin often writes about subjects that are particularly sensitive during her lifetime, and many of them still strikes a nerve in the United States today. In “Desiree’s Baby,” Chopin offers a compelling critique of the class based and racial prejudice that invaded the attitudes
…show more content…
Armand, who is the antagonist has one of his values being racism. Armand is a slave owner in Louisiana and he comes from a family whose name is well known (Johnson and Brown 71). He uses his family name as another way to feel like a king besides owning slaves. Armand’s pride comes first before his family because he feels like he has to protect the family name and history at any cost. Since Armand figures that he knows his past and who he actually is, so he assumes that Desiree is the reason why their baby is mixed. Besides, the fact that Desiree is adopted and does not know what her ethnicity is the reason why Armand feels like her race, which he assumes is black, changes everything. He does not want anything to destroy who and what he is, so he told his wife and baby to leave. Armand does not want people to frown upon him or make him into a joke so, he felt like “he no longer loved her, because of the unconscious injury she had brought upon his home and his name” …show more content…
From the beginning of the story, the readers become aware that Armand can give a socially accepted legitimate to Desiree by giving her his name. This is significant as Chopin is highlighting to the reader the subservience of not only Desiree but women in general at the time the story was written, relying on the male to provide legitimacy or validation. It would appear that by having Armand’s name, Desiree is in turn being accepted by the society. The fact that Desiree also asks Armand should she leave also suggests that not only does she feel shame, but that she is subservient to him. It is on his decision that the matter is resolved. Just as there is a sense of inequality between black and white people in the story, there is a sense that women too are not equal to men. Again, this could suggest that the role of the female at the time the story is written, is to accept any decisions made by the male, not to question them.
The theme of the short story “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin illustrates how an individual is powerless and feel pressure when pride is bigger and more than the love. Racism is only causing destruction and death. As the world is getting more advanced and well developed, people need to be more open minded and trying to express a greater
Armand, who is the antagonist has one of his values being racism. Armand is a slave owner in Louisiana and he comes from a family whose name is well known (Johnson and Brown 71). He uses his family name as another way to feel like a king besides owning slaves. Armand’s pride comes first before his family because he feels like he has to protect the family name and history at any cost. Since Armand figures that he knows his past and who he actually is, so he assumes that Desiree is the reason why their baby is mixed. Besides, the fact that Desiree is adopted and does not know what her ethnicity is the reason why Armand feels like her race, which he assumes is black, changes everything. He does not want anything to destroy who and what he is, so he told his wife and baby to leave. Armand does not want people to frown upon him or make him into a joke so, he felt like “he no longer loved her, because of the unconscious injury she had brought upon his home and his name” …show more content…
From the beginning of the story, the readers become aware that Armand can give a socially accepted legitimate to Desiree by giving her his name. This is significant as Chopin is highlighting to the reader the subservience of not only Desiree but women in general at the time the story was written, relying on the male to provide legitimacy or validation. It would appear that by having Armand’s name, Desiree is in turn being accepted by the society. The fact that Desiree also asks Armand should she leave also suggests that not only does she feel shame, but that she is subservient to him. It is on his decision that the matter is resolved. Just as there is a sense of inequality between black and white people in the story, there is a sense that women too are not equal to men. Again, this could suggest that the role of the female at the time the story is written, is to accept any decisions made by the male, not to question them.
The theme of the short story “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin illustrates how an individual is powerless and feel pressure when pride is bigger and more than the love. Racism is only causing destruction and death. As the world is getting more advanced and well developed, people need to be more open minded and trying to express a greater