Racism in L’Abri Racism seems to be a vicious, never-ending problem in our world; from the beginning of time lasting even in today’s society. In the story “Desiree’s Baby,” author Kate Chopin uses Armand and Desiree’s story to express the severity of racism experienced during the antebellum south era; furthermore, her use of irony and symbolism highlight the commonality of racism during this time, displaying the mistreatment of slaves and the prejudices against Armand’s wife and child. Throughout the story “Desiree’s Baby,” readers may notice the use of irony and symbolism to clearly express the prevalence of racism during this time. While reading the story, readers notice, writer Kate Chopin uses the word “white” repeatedly. The connotation
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Once Armand had even the slightest idea that his child was possibly of color, the child seemed to no longer mean anything to him.The author included the following conversation to express the inexpressible shame that overcame him: “‘It means,’ he answered lightly, ‘that the child is not white; it means that you are not white “ (Chopin 3). While reading this, the reader gains a sense of fear and hopelessness in Armands voice simply because the idea that his child may be black. The race of his child and his wife was important enough to completely obliterate their relationships. Because of the revelation of the child’s race, Desiree asked the following: “Do you want me to go?” and Armand replied, “Yes, I want you to go” (Chopin 3). In this moment Armand disowned the people that once mattered most to him simply because the color of skin. The idea that she, or her child, may be black caused an overwhelming amount of shame that led her to kill the both of them. He led his own wife to commit suicide because they both felt so deeply unworthy about belonging to a certain race.
The severity of the issue of racism during the 19th century Antebellum Era is fully portrayed by author Kate Chopin in her short story entitled, “Desiree’s Baby,” by using the story of Armand and Desiree to clearly exhibit the issues of racism and racial bigotry to her contemporary audience, as well as her current readers. She used the figurative language devices such as irony and symbolism to highlight the issue, while intentionally making the reader aware of the mistreatment of slaves and Armand’s prejudices against Desiree and the baby due to what he believed to be their ethnic
Once Armand had even the slightest idea that his child was possibly of color, the child seemed to no longer mean anything to him.The author included the following conversation to express the inexpressible shame that overcame him: “‘It means,’ he answered lightly, ‘that the child is not white; it means that you are not white “ (Chopin 3). While reading this, the reader gains a sense of fear and hopelessness in Armands voice simply because the idea that his child may be black. The race of his child and his wife was important enough to completely obliterate their relationships. Because of the revelation of the child’s race, Desiree asked the following: “Do you want me to go?” and Armand replied, “Yes, I want you to go” (Chopin 3). In this moment Armand disowned the people that once mattered most to him simply because the color of skin. The idea that she, or her child, may be black caused an overwhelming amount of shame that led her to kill the both of them. He led his own wife to commit suicide because they both felt so deeply unworthy about belonging to a certain race.
The severity of the issue of racism during the 19th century Antebellum Era is fully portrayed by author Kate Chopin in her short story entitled, “Desiree’s Baby,” by using the story of Armand and Desiree to clearly exhibit the issues of racism and racial bigotry to her contemporary audience, as well as her current readers. She used the figurative language devices such as irony and symbolism to highlight the issue, while intentionally making the reader aware of the mistreatment of slaves and Armand’s prejudices against Desiree and the baby due to what he believed to be their ethnic