Category: Desiree’s Baby

Chikamatsu Monzaemon and Kate Chopin are well known writers of their respective genre. While they are famous writers, they are also very different from one another when it comes to the tales they write about. Though there are quite a lot of differences between their most popular stories, the Love Suicides at Amijima and Desiree’s Baby have many things in common with one another, dealing with women treatment, gender role, a similar theme, and the complexity of love.

Encyclopedia Britannica editor Donald Keen wrote about the history of Chikamatsu Monzaemon. Known for writing the Love Suicides at Amijima, Monzaemon was born in 1653, Echizen, Japan, and died Jan. 6, 1725 in Osaka, Japan. He was a Japanese playwright who is widely regarded as among the greatest dramatists of that country. Originally named Sugimori Nobumori, he is credited with more than 100 plays, most of which were written as jōruri dramas, performed by puppets (1-6). Keen notes how he was also the first author of jōruri to write works that not only gave the puppet operator the opportunity to display his skill but also were of considerable literary merit.

Keen also talks about how Chikamatsu was born into a samurai family, but his father apparently abandoned his feudal duties sometime between 1664 and 1670, moving the family to Kyōto. He also includes Chikamatsu serving as a member of the court aristocracy while living there (7-10). In addition to this, the origin of his connection to the theatre are currently unknown. Yotsugi Soga (1683; “The Soga Heir”), a jōruri, is the first play that can be definitely attributed to Chikamatsu. The following year he wrote a Kabuki play, and by 1693 he was writing exclusively for actors. In 1703 he would establish an earlier connection with the jōruri chanter Takemoto Gidayū, and he moved in 1705 from Kyōto to Ōsaka to be nearer to Gidayū’s puppet theatre, the Takemoto-za (10-14). Chikamatsu would spend his remaining days as a staff playwright for the theatre until his death.

Known for writing Desiree’s Baby, Kate Chopin was an American novelist and short-story writer known as an interpreter of New Orleans culture. According to other editors from Encyclopedia Britannica, being Yamini Chauhan, Aakanksha Gaur, John Higgins, and Gloria Lotha, it was thanks to her that there was a revival of interest in Chopin in the late 20th century (1-4). This is mainly because of her concerns about the freedom of women foreshadowed later feminist literary themes.

Born to a prominent St. Louis family, Katherine O’Flaherty read widely as a girl. In June 1870 she married Oscar Chopin, with whom she lived in his native New Orleans, Louisiana, and later on a plantation near Cloutierville, Louisiana, until his death in 1882. After he died she began to write about the Creole and Cajun people she had observed in the South. Her first novel, which is At Fault (1890), was considered to be undistinguished, but she would later be acclaimed for her finely crafted short stories, of which she wrote more than 100. The editors mention how one of these acclaimed stories, that being “Désirée’s Baby”, would continue to be widely anthologized throughout time (5-11). With the backstory of both writers well known, it is easier to get a grasp at what Chikamatsu Monzaemon and Kate Chopin

Both of these stories show off ways that women were treated terribly back in the day. The Love Suicides shows off Jihei, who cheated on his wife trashing Koharu for reasonably wanting to stay alive, breaking a pact they made with one another. In Act 2 of the story, Jihei states “I have not a shred of attachment left for that vampire in human skin” (2.1, 349). He would also call her a rotten whore, showing his hypocritical attitude toward her. Another instance of the Love Suicides showing off jihei mistreating a woman is when he searches for Koharu before he finds out she would not be killing herself. Once he does learn this, Jihei quickly thinks about killing her with no hesitation (1.2, 341). Jihei wanting to cause physical harm towards Koharu over wanting to live is not something that would be acceptable today, but back then would be no problem at all.

In Desiree’s Baby, Desiree ends up being treated as a monster of sorts by her husband Armand due to their baby being half black, and she gets blamed for it. What causes such an uproar is when he decides to say “It means that the child is not white; it means you are not white” (109-110). After that assumption, Armand decides to leave Desiree and the baby, leading to the unfortunate demise of both.

The stories also gives readers the characters lack of respect and loyalty towards others. In the Love Suicides at Amijima, Jihei acts as if he’s superior to the people he knows. This includes Osan, the wife he decides to cheat on. An example of him acting superior towards someone, specifically to Osan, is when he says “You’re too well bred, despite your intelligence, to understand her likes. What makes you suppose that faithless creature would kill herself?” (2.1, 350). Jihei talked down to his own wife as if she was wrong about his situation about Koharu, thinking he is in the right.

Desiree’s Baby portrays Armand as a slave owner, who just so happens to also be a black man himself. He only finds out about his true race thanks to a letter from his mother, stating “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” (168-170). After leaving Desiree behind and forcing other black men to work for him, this revelation likely broke him. Not only that, but Armand would have to live the rest of his days living in his own shame. An additional example to further prove that there were no respect towards black people is when Desiree tries to say goodbye to Armand. Once she moans out “good-by, Armand”, he instead ignores it (141-142). While there was a chance for him to “forgive” and forget about the problematic situation with Desiree, he decides to stick with being a petty and angry man who will end up regretting everything by letting her go.

Another thing both stories have in common were Monzaemon and Chopin dealing with denial, gender roles, and love all at once in some sort of way. For example, the Love Suicides at Amijima shows Jihei being a bad father for most of the story. Chikamatsu Monzaemon has another story like this one, called “Love Suicides at Sonezaki”, Noted by Donald Keene of New York: Columbia University Press, this story is about a young man who works in a shop selling soy sauce, with his heroine a prostitute of the lower class. Chikamatsu made the villain of this story, Kuheiji, to make suicide more plausible for the unhappy lovers; only to kill themselves due to being tired of life in general (115-119). The story has different characters, yet has the exact same plot as Amijima, also ending in the main character dying like a “hero”. Cheating on his wife and killing himself instead of taking care of his own children, Jihei manages to get away with all of that due to being written as the story’s hero. No matter what the situation is, Jihei is meant to be seen as a loyal and loving man in this adventure of his.

Desiree’s Baby, on the other hand, has the titular character end with a death for a purpose. Kate Chopin decided to make sure the ending of her story would have an ironic feel to it, as noted by American writer Madonne M. Miner of ST. James Press. She states how Armand finding his mother’s letter speaks of the terrible costs to men and women when the former would claim complete interpretive power, similar to the return of the repressed (60-62). Due to the letter being returned to him, he now has to accept the misdoings he ended up causing. Knowing this, not only does this show a lack of true love between the two characters, but it also shows Armand’s treatment towards Desiree and the baby near the end of the story became misplaced. Losing a family over race issues with no actual evidence to prove his claim to be true ruined all of their lives.

An additional thing both stories have in common is the overall theme they have. Love Suicides is about how marriage doesn’t equal happiness and love, while Desiree’s Baby is about how racial purity is not something that measures a person. The connection between the two themes is that the main character for both stories, Jihei and Desiree, lose everything dear to them due to a judgement in their relationships. Due to cheating on his wife, Jihei lost Osan as well as their children, the latter of which could’ve been taken back if he wanted to. Desiree, thanks to Armand being a fool, she lost her lover and her child. They would both lose their own lives as well due to suicide, though only Jihei wanted to die this way in the first place.

The plot of both stories also help make the theme connection they have in common through the consequences caused. The Love Suicides at Amijima has the audience confronted with the constant consequence of two lovers trying to be together. Analyzed by Andrew C. Gerstle from the Council on East Asian Studies in harvard University, talks about how complicated matters by creating a relationship of mutual obligation and respect between Koharu and Osan (5-7). This situation he put the characters in emphasized the consequences of the decision which made the timing of the hidden love between Jihei and Koharu difficult. With Osan being taken away from Jihei by her father Gozaemon, he lost a choice to choose from for a relationship, leading to both of them losing their children in the process due to the suicide of Jihei.

Desiree’s Baby centers around the complex themes of race and gender, as it is a prevalent topic throughout the story, noted by Roslyn Foy of Explicator and Ellen Peel of American Literature (8-9). With Desiree struggling with establishing herself to her fullest potential and Armand treating black people as if they were absolutely meaningless, these themes helps build up the story as intended. Unfortunately, both of these characters end up having their direction in the lives they lived destroyed. Peel wrote about how Desiree, due to being immersed in her husband’s value system and never standing up to him, never gets to make a name for herself in the end (61-62). Desiree not standing up to the man she loved is an example of how inferior women were to men back in the day, to the point where they were not allowed to talk back.

Foy described how with the imagery to view black people differently for most of his life causes Armand having to hate himself due to hating black people. His hatred towards himself represents the color black bringing negativity throughout the story compared to the color of white people (50-54). Though his reaction to his child being half black and instantly blaming his wife instantly is quite foolish, it was also a reasonable reaction to have back then. However, that does not make him leaving his family a right call whatsoever.

The Love Suicides at Amijima and Desiree’s Baby have many things in common with one another regardless of the glaring differences. With sympathetic characters like Desiree, Osan, and Koharu alongside characters like Jihei and Armand not being people anyone would trust or respect, both stories manage to show off what they have in common with their own spin. Chikamatsu Monzaemon and Kate Chopin have earned their spot among writing legends, while Love Suicides and Desiree’s Baby prove that love is not always at first sight, especially if gender is used to determine what true love is.

Works Cited

1. Chauhan, Yamini, et al. “Kate Chopin.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 4 Feb. 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Kate-Chopin.
2. Foy, R. ‘Chopin’s ‘Desiree’s Baby.” “Synthesis Essay – WRIT102ePortfolio.” Google Sites,0 sites.google.com/site/writ102eportfolio/home/synthesis-essay. Explicator 49.4 (1991): 222-223. Print
3. Gerstle, A. Circles of Fantasy: Convention in the Plays of Chikamatsu. Cambridge, Mass.: Council on East Asian Studies, Harvard University, 1986.
4. Keen, D. “Historical Basis for Shinjû Ten No Amijima.” Shinju Introduction, Council on East Asian Studies, 31 Dec. 2000, jti.lib.virginia.edu/japanese/chikamatsu/shinju/kennelly-shinju.html.
5. ‘The Love Suicides at Sonezaki.’ Literature Criticism from 1400 to 1800, edited by Thomas J. Schoenberg and Lawrence J. Trudeau, vol. 66, Gale, 2001. Literature Resource Center, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/H1420036053/LitRC?u=las55353&sid=LitRC&xid=7f1cae71. Accessed 9 Apr. 2019.
6. Originally published in Masterworks of Asian Literature in Comparative Perspective: A Guide for Teaching, edited by Barbara Stoler Miller and East Gate, 1994, pp. 517-525.
7. Keene, D. “Chikamatsu Monzaemon.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2 Jan. 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Chikamatsu-Monzaemon#ref110797.
8. Miner, M. ‘Désirée’s Baby: Overview.’ Reference Guide to Short Fiction, edited by Noelle Watson, St. James Press, 1994. Literature Resource Center, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/H1420001639/LitRC?u=las55353&sid=LitRC&xid=5cb31153. Accessed 9 Apr. 2019.
9. Peel, E. ‘Semiotic Subversion in ‘Desiree’s Baby.”Peel, E. ‘Semiotic Subversion in ‘Desiree’s Baby.” American Literature 62.2 (2010): 223-237. Print. American Literature 62.2 (2010): 223-237. Print.
10. PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/katechopin/library/desireesbaby.html. http://faculty.humanities.uci.edu/sbklein/articles/gender/LoveSuicidesAmijima.pdf

In the U.S.A. there are many people impacted on normalized societal stereotypes. It’s hard to be a person impacted by societal stereotypes. Can you imagine being impacted? But one of the most missed treated people is Hispanics. Hispanics normalized societal stereotypes impact their experiences due to white culture. White culture impacted Hispanic’s experiences because of the color of their skin, applying for jobs, and little income.

The color of Hispanic’s skin impacted their experiences because they get don’t get the same job allowed to white people. Hispanics also get normally at as black people. And sometimes they commit suicide because of how people think of them. Like now in this country Hispanics are getting separated from the family, get sent back to the country. Some white people feel they do not belong in the United States they bring cartels drugs and more violence to the United States. Desiree’s baby relates to this because she had to give up her identity when she gave birth as the baby was black. Also, this relates to Desiree’s Baby because she ends up killing herself when she finds out about her identity.

Hispanics applying for a job can be hard. It could be hard for them because their manager might like immigrants working for them. But they do get hired the boss might give them that worst job to do. The boss can even give them low pay by leaving no money to prove to their family. On the job, their co-workers might talk about them, and try to get them fired for nothing. The play Othello best fits this topic because one of Othello workers got mad at him because feel that Othello passed him up for a position. This also relates to this topic because Iago starts rumors about Othello saying he raped Desdemona.

Hispanics with little income can’t prove to their family. Can you imagine with low income? With little income how can they put food on the table for their kid’s water to drink, and water use for personal hygiene? They also go into poverty and become poor. Even worse they can end up on the street, or start selling drugs. But if they were to do that the white community will say they bring cartels drugs and more violence to the United States. But how can you say when you don’t give them jobs they can do for good pay. This relates to Desiree’s Baby because with the being servants they were paid little to no income.

In conclusion, Hispanics normalized societal stereotypes impact their experiences due to white culture. White culture impacted Hispanic’s experiences because of the color of their skin, applying for jobs, and little income. Also, this particular group of people who are impacted by normalized societal stereotypes I picked relates to many stories we read in class.

Speaking about “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin, Desiree is a gentle, kind, and a loving person. In this story, she is unknown about her husband, Armand, went from being “The proudest father in the parish” to having a unusual, a very unpleasant change in her husband’s actions, which she afraid to ask him about. In addition to this, there are still some people in this society where people were measured by racial purity. More importantly, love need to supplant any kind of prejudice or racist ideology. Love is the only one thing that can make this world a happier place to live.

Specifically, Love is the pure form of showing emotions from one to another. Considering “Desiree’s Baby” tragedy overtake Desiree and her baby, and at last her husband too. So, if there was love between them, the scenario could be a good and happy ending. In my opinion, Desiree could use so many options such as she need to talk with Armand about the matter and try to figure out the good solution or she need to talk with one expert psychologist to resolve this matter. So, this tells me that we need to love ourselves as well as our family. Nowadays, people just forget about their life and health, if they have any big problems.

Indeed, Armand was so happy, when he found out that his wife is having a baby. He was much happier than before as he was being good with his slaves as well. He was just a wonderful person as it seemed at that moment, and when the time came out, he found out that his baby is dark skinned color then, he turned down to his own wife and blame her for the mixed baby. This clearly shows that racial prejudice clearly succeeded love between Desiree and Armand.

As a matter of fact, our world is a beautiful place. People can make it even better if we all live in peace and harmony rather than war and racial prejudice. Love should be between every couples in each and every part of the country of the whole world. People should spread love rather than hate to make this world a better place to live. In my opinion, social awareness regarding this should be spread out around the whole world by different kinds of medias including facebook, twitter, television programs, street dramas, and so on. The more love spreads the happier people will be and eventually a beautiful world for us is possible.

As a final point, the main theme of this short story is people are often judged by their appearances and racial purity. Moreover, after reading “Desiree’s Baby” I came to know that in early days, females were not in the same position as men were. This is the main reason why after having the baby Armand doubted his wife having a bad family background. When Desiree figured out that her husband no longer loves her and their child, it pusher her to leave and kill the child and herself. This clearly shows that racial prejudice succeeded the love between them. In addition to this, there were many incidents where white couples have dark skinned babies. However, in those cases people should understand the love between each other rather than arguing or measuring the people by races.

Kate Chopin expresses her views about sexism and elements of race issues in the story “Desiree’s Baby.” Chopin shows the relationship between women and men and the attitudes men have on women. She shows this by indicating women’s actions are solely driven by men. In her stories, she reveals men are dominant while women are vulnerable and gullible. And in terms of race the difference between being black and white shows the importance in the character’s lives. As Desiree and Armand associate themselves to be white, the plot will then reveal their black heritage and ultimately their lives are not worth living for. She also shows that women like Desiree in “Desiree’s Baby”, will defy expectations of their time period and undergo a transformation from being dependent to stronger, independent women. The plot for Chopin’s “Desiree’s Baby” centers around the themes of gender and race.

Chopin expresses her ideas of the differences between men and women in her short story through Desiree as sensitive and vulnerable, whereas Armand, her husband is presented to be oppressive and superior. Sexism during this time period had bound women from speaking up for themselves. In this story, prejudice was prevalent in that time period. This had affected Desiree because her origin was unknown. She is in a culture where marriage is seen as a top priority, women had to be submissive to their husbands. She was also said to be “Nameless” she had no account for herself, instead, she aimed to be a traditional wife by serving her husband Armand, and as such depends on him. When he is happy she also feels happy when he is upset she is “miserable enough to die.”

Eventually, Desiree gives birth to a colored baby. Armand neglects her and the baby because “that child is not white that means you are not white.” He blames Desiree of having mixed blood and the shame she has caused him. “he no longer loved her because of the conscious injury she had brought upon his home and his name” She does not have enough evidence to deny if she is indeed white because she is unfamiliar with her true background, even comparing her lighter skin to Armand’s. But Desiree being bounded by the constrictions of her being a woman is just accused instead. “unconscious injury she had brought upon Armands home.” (244) These words greatly affect Desiree when she is the one with whiter skin between her and Armand and seemed assured she is white, the inferiority of females of her time gives her no say in determining what her true skin color is. ‘Desiree is immersed in her husband ‘s value system and never stands up to Armand, not even to interpret the meaning of his dark skin'(235).

Sexism is an important theme throughout this short story, it shows the struggles of what women go through trying to fulfill their lives to the fullest potential. Desiree is described as “nameless” but for her to have importance in society is through her husband. Armand “who is of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana” (242). Men and husbands like Armand lead Desiree’s life in ways that would only benefit them the most. Due to Desiree’s situation, gave her no concept of herself aside from her husband, and after he shuns her, she is convinced her life is no longer worth living for. Desiree still being naive she asks him, “Do you want me to go?” she dies emotionally, Desiree has realized and understands that Armand is the reason she is worth something in society, as many other women of this time who were also ruled by the name of their husbands. This gives women no place to stand up for themselves and it relates to the struggles women face from being there best potential. When Desiree leaves she takes a path she is not familiar with which is along the deserted field.

This new path is symbolic. It shows the new path Desiree takes is the path towards progression, where she will leave behind her husband and will now search for equality for women. And like Maxine Kingston’s “No Name Woman’ The daughter’s mother told her about her aunt before she passed away and the causes in her death, she tells her a story about her aunt because her daughter got her menstrual cycle. She was saying about his family including the aunt and her new husband and how they traveled to America. One day the father saw his sister getting dressed and sees that her stomach looks like other pregnant women. He didn’t understand because her husband has been gone for years. Later that night the villagers had visited them and slaughtered their animals while sabotaging there home. The father went through the rest of his life not ever mentioning his sister, he did not want to be looked down upon.

Ultimately the mother was informing the daughter as a point as to why she should not commit adultery. Women in a Chinese society shared strikingly similar roles as those in American culture, they were to take orders from men without question. And in the title “No Name Woman” implies that women are less valued than men. Similarly as Desiree when she was called “Nameless”. Kingston tells the unfair discrimination against her aunt through her mother’s “talk stories.” Kingston’s mother shares the consequences her aunt went through in their traditional Chinese village and why she should never be like her aunt. The village required women to participate in rushed weddings to keep from adultery from the village. However in “No Name Woman,” it ironically falls victim into adultery which is why the villagers took action by Kingston’s aunt. First-generation Chinese-Americans cherish the stories they grew up hearing about however Kingston breaks away from her family’s issues by undermining the tradition and culture of her childhood village.

This story shows how one’s female identity will fade as soon as you are born into Chinese society. Both stories have different beliefs in their traditions. For example, in No Name Woman, the father believed that his sister was dishonorable to the family because she got married and had a child outside of wedlock. In Desiree’s Baby Armand abandoned his family due to the color of his baby skin. He only blamed and bashed his wife that she committed the sin of adultery which is highlighted in the two stories. Kingston fears she will disgrace her family for taking a stand. Breaking the cycle of silence her mother put onto Kingston has allowed her a new style of tradition which Kingston will pass onto the next future generation. Desiree and Kingston are both from two different cultures, however, it does not take away the same struggles they both face. Where women are disregarded. And lastly, Both Armand and Desiree are extremely different in character. Armand was restful for loving Desiree. He had monotonously led his life while Desiree ended hers. Desiree ultimately is weak she is so absorbed in traditional views that she was unable to cope without her husband’s love and acceptance which had lead her to kill herself. Armand is in disbelief when he finally discovers his own who “belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.” But having the pride that he does, he will internally suffer from the shock. In conclusion, the woman in both stories ultimately fulfills society’s expectation. Which leads them both to their deaths. Sexism prevails as an issue as Desiree struggles to stand up for herself because of the inferiority of women at this time. The elements sexism in ‘Desiree ‘s Baby’ create the plot and present the struggles and issues she is faced with.

“I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat” (West. R). A woman who expresses herself about the issues she believes in can even today experience she is being provocative. However, we have come a long way since the days of the civil rights movement for women in the 19th century. Women through the ages have made their mark, such as Kate Chopin, a major prominent feminist novelist (Abrams, Harpham. 275). According to Kelsey Wessels, Chopin wrote about her feelings and felt women had a sexual appetite (Wessels. K). Chopin`s style in her novels show she is concerned about the realities of life. Further, referred to the term “realism”, which refers to a literary and artistic movement of the late 1800s and early 1900s (Abrams, Harpham. 275). Nevertheless, her topics were quite controversial for its time.

In Chopin’s short story, “Desiree’s Baby” published by Vogue in 1893. Chopin cleverly uses literary devices such as foreshowing, setting, irony and symbolism to highlight Desiree’s helpless situation. A woman who loves her husband in a time when women have no civil rights and slavery is still legal in the southern states of America. Chopin narrates the story in a third person, with Desiree as the protagonist. Through this character, she portrays a message that women are victims in a racial white man`s hegemony in America.

Women in the 1800s had no civil rights and were compared to criminals and idiots. Furthermore, regarded as property, and had no say in what their future ought to be. “According to Washington dispatches one of the features of the parade there is to be a float containing the figures of an idiot, a criminal, a woman and a baby, and the originator of this idea says that it will drive home a forceful argument. There is no argument here at all, but a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the status of women” (Chittenden. A. H, 1894). Many valiant women including Chopin campaigned for equality. ”When the Fifteenth Amendment proposed to prohibit denial of the vote on the basis of ‘race, color or previous condition of servitude,’ women who pushed for equal rights wanted to add the word ‘sex’ to the list. They lost this battle” (Hartman. D.W). However, Chopin used her novels to convey her message to the world, such as in “Desiree`s Baby”. The name Desiree has its origin in Latin, which translates to the newborn “Desiderius”, meaning desired, wanted child, and expected child (namedoctor). Chopin writes, “Desiree had grown into a beautiful, affectionate and sincere woman” (Chopin. 1).

The setting of ‘Desiree’s Baby,’ is set before the Civil War, and slavery is a cultural custom in Louisiana on luxurious plantations, owned by the upper classes. A time when women have no civil right. The story has a realistic element seen in the dark ending, when Desiree kills herself and her baby, and when Armand Aubigyny her husband finds out that, he is the one who has “black blood” in his ancestry. In “Desiree’s Baby” racism, sexism and classism are themes “weaved together” through Desiree marring Armand and having his baby” in a racist society. Desiree`s baby is biracial in a time when “one drop” of “black blood” was considered being black (African descendant). Desiree finds herself in a helpless situation as she is accused of being biracial. As the story unfolds, Armand must have known he was biracial; his mother dies when he is eight, so he should have remembered his mother. Did Armand know about the letter he finds at the end of the story? In addition, who is La Blanche? The story talks about La Blanche of looking like a white woman.

Armand hears the baby cry as far as La Blanche`s cabin, La Blanche meaning “white”. La Blanche is a biracial woman who can past of as white. This is depicted when La Blanche`s boy is fanning Desiree’s baby, and Desiree notices both children are of the same colour (Owens. R). Desiree is accused of being biracial, laughs hysterically when she is trying to tell Armand he is darker than her, yet Armand reply’s she is “ as white as La Blanche” (Chopin 3). Armand is a wealthy white man, which gives him complete control over all his possessions. That includes Desiree. Chopin demonstrates how helpless women are through the inequality between the genders in a racial society. Desiree is a white woman treated as a possession. Armand controls Desiree by providing her with beautiful expensive gifts, clothes, and gives her status and wealth through their marriage. “When he frowned she trembled, but loved him. When he smiled, she asked no greater blessing of God” (Chopin. 2). He shows power and control over Desiree when provided with a coloured nurse to look after their baby. Moreover, Armand can take all this from Desiree at any time. Besides, something he does in rejecting her and burning her belongings on a bonfire to remove all memory of her and the baby. Thus showing she is nothing more than a possession. Desiree`s disadvantaged circumstances gives her no choice but to leave Armand when he tells her to go. Desiree turns to the door and walks slowly hoping he would call her back, she takes their son and leaves never to return (Chopin 4).

The ending is foreshadowed many times throughout the story. “Young Aubigny`s rule was strict one, too, and under it his negroes had forgotten how to be gay” (Chopin.1), which depicts Armand is racist and cruel. Desiree says, “I`m so happy; it frightens me” (Chopin.2). Desiree suspects her happiness will not last, and when the baby was about three months old, she realizes something was about to change. “Desiree awoke one day to the conviction that there was something in the air menacing her peace” (…) It had only been a disquieting suggestion; an air of mystery among the blacks (…) then an awful change in her husband`s manner” (Chopin. 2), which shows Desiree is sceptical about her husband turning on her, though she does not know why yet. Desiree askes Armand, “look at our child, what does it mean” (Chopin.3)? Telling Armand that she is aware that their baby is biracial. “Then a strange, an awful change in her husband`s manner, which she dared not to 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” (Chopin. 2), which means Armand has lots his love for Desiree after recognizing their son is biracial. “The very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his dealings with the slaves. Desiree was miserable enough to die” (Chopin. 2), which indicates that Armand is turning on Desiree though punishing slaves, who share the same “black blood” as Desiree. Who is innocently unaware of her ancestry, and without any evidence, Armand accuses her for being biracial.

It is ironic that Armand rejects Desiree for being biracial when under the circumstances; he is biracial. Moreover, after Desiree has left, Armand discovers a letter from his mother. “She wrote, (…), I thank 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” (Chopin. 4). This exposes Armand`s notion that he is superior to Desiree and their baby through destroying his family and happiness, besides this makes Armand a despotic hypocrite.

The home of Armand L`Abri symbolizes the darkness of evil, as it is described having big oak trees that grew close to it, and shadowed the house like a pall (Chopin. 1). L`Abri is “rapped with a blanket” of an airy gloom. Desiree’s adoption mother, Madam Valmonde shudders at the sight of it. “The roof came down steep and black and like cowl, reaching out beyond the wide galleries that encircled the yellow stuccoed house” (Chopin. 1). Madam Valmonde remembers how L`Abri used to be when Armand’s father used to live there and now the house looks dark and wicked with Armand`s beliefs he is superior to Desiree that leads to the destruction of his family.

Stone pillars outside the house of Madam and Monsieur Valmonde symbolise a cold aristocratic racial culture. Desiree is found in the shadow of a stone pillar as a baby, by the charity of those who have more money and power than she does. Madam and Monsieur Valmonde of high society have given her an identity, which can change at any moment. Furthermore, when Armand sees Desiree once again in the shadow of the stone pillar, and again she is given a new identity and the mother of his child. Then having this new identity ripped from her by Armand’s mistaken belief that she is biracial. Desiree’s fine clothes given to her by Armand is symbolic for his wealth and material possessions. Desiree and her baby have no more value to Armand, which he demonstrates when he burns Desiree clothes and the baby’s cradle on the bonfire, showing that everything including his wife and child can be bought and destroyed at his own will. The bonfire symbolises Armand’s anger when burning and destroying the memory of Desiree and her baby at the end of the story. Yet, earlier in the story, fire is symbolic for his passion for Desiree. “The passion that awoke him that day (…) or like a prairie fire” (Chopin. 1), which indicates Armand has fallen passionately in-love with Desiree, a white beautiful young woman. Armand takes what he desires and disposes of it when it gives him no longer any value. Chopin is describing how white men in this racist sexist hypocritical society subject women to mental and physical abuse.

Conclusion

Chopin skilfully portrays women are victims in a dominant white-male racial society through the protagonist Desiree. Armand falsely accuses Desiree for having “black blood” in her lineage. Furthermore, women were mere possessions and had no civil right. It did not matter if one came from the upper social classes, as we learn from Desiree`s situation. Where Madam and Monsieur Valmonde are her guardians who can help her. Yet, Desiree writes a letter to her mother. “Mother, they tell me I am not white. (…) I must die. I cannot be so unhappy and live” (Chopin. 3). Desiree is so ashamed of being biracial that she would rather die than face life without the love and respect of Armand. Armand`s character demonstrates he is despotic, and the ownership men have over women. The irony is Armand is of African decadent and blames Desiree for it. In addition, a woman like Desiree at that time being “branded” biracial, was “damaged goods”. Chopin`s message to her readers is how men like Armand treat women unnecessary and unjustified. The irony of the story is Desiree`s name, meaning, desired wanted a child (namedoctor). Did Chopin cleverly choose the name Desiree out of irony and acerbity towards men like Armand? If this is the case, the plot in “Desiree`s Baby” appears to be inspired by Chopin’s contempt of how society treated women.

In most stories and poems, they tend to include irony. Irony plays a big role in stories, giving readers a gasp or a surprise for not expecting what is to come. Although there are many stories with irony in them, Kate Chopin’s “The storm” and “Desiree’s Baby” include a significant amount of irony. For example in the short story “ The storm” many important facts are hidden from the readers, only to show up at the end of the story, also Chopin uses irony with certain descriptions given throughout the entire story. In “ Desiree’s Baby” Chopin talks about death, racism and heritage. Kate Chopin’s use of irony, is what make her beginnings, middle and endings all the more captivating.

Kate Chopin’s short story “Desiree’s Baby” has an inexplicable amount of irony. For example the story centers around race and heritage. In the text it states “The passion that awoke in him that day, when he saw her at the gate, swept along like an avalanche, or like a prairie fire, or like anything that drives headlong over all obstacles.” Armand is very prejudice to black people, he has fallen in love thinking that he would have a child with a white women and the outcome would be a white child. The irony is that after everything, he receives backfire from all of this because his child is not fully white. He later finds out this his ancestors were African and that is the real irony. Armand was in denial throughout the whole story, deep down I believe Armand knew this information, but kept it as a secret. Armand is afraid of what the public eye would perceive him as if they were to find out the truth. Armand holds power and a title, and he would not dare risk being caught red handed. Armand continues to punish Desiree and his child for his own mistakes. Armand later finds a letter written from his parents revealing that he has mixed blood, and then goes on to blame God for being this way. It is also ironic that once he found out his child was mixed, he made sure to tear Desiree down, not knowing he was going down with her. In the text it states “It is a lie; it is not true, I am white! Look at my hair, it is brown; and my eyes are gray, Armand, you know they are gray. And my skin is fair,” seizing his wrist. “Look at my hand; whiter than yours, Armand,” she laughed hysterically. “As white as La Blanche’s,” he returned cruelly; and went away leaving her alone with their child.” The end of the story is the real irony because Armand eventually loses everything, he has lost not only his wife and child but his family’s name.

Although race and heritage was the center of “Desiree’s Baby”, religion also played a part in the story creating even more irony. For example the text states “My mother, they tell me I am not white. Armand has told me I am not white. For God’s sake tell them it is not true. You must know it is not true. I shall die. I must die. I cannot be so unhappy, and live.”. Although the story does not state that Desiree and her baby die, death and religion is the irony present. Desiree displays a sense of boldness in her attempts to defy her God, this is also irony because acting this way in the mid-nineteenth-century in Louisiana would have been considered heretical.

Kate chopin’s “The storm” there are many signs of irony. For example Chopin writes “Calixta put her hands to her eyes, and with a cry, staggered backward. Alcee’s arm encircled her, and for an instant he drew her close and spasmodically to him.” Chopin’s tries to convince readers to feel bad for her, when in reality there is more to her than what meets the eye, as the saying goes. Throughout the whole storm Calixta is displaying her emotions, making readers believe she is worried about her child and husband. While they are dealing with the storm, Calixta’s true identity shows when she commits an act of adultery, even though she claims she is worried about her family during the storm.

Another sign of irony is the storm, and how it gave many opportunities. For example, Calixta would not have seen or committed any adultery if it were for the storm “She had not seen him very often since her marriage, and never alone,” so because of the storm, it gave her an opportunity to do “dirty work” and have an affair. Calixta eventually realizes that she is a mother and a wife, yet she continues to have an affair with Alcee. To furthermore, she pretends to show concern for her husband and child y , the text states “Oh, Bobint! You back! My! But I was uneasy. W’ere you been during the rain? An’ Bibi? he ain’t wet? he ain’t hurt? She had clasped Bibi and was kissing him effusively.” Another sign of irony in “ The Storm” is Calixta’s four-year-old child (Bibi), he is perceived to be brave and he is not frightened by the storm. For example in the story, ‘Bibi laid his little hand on his father’s knee and was not afraid'(226), This is a comparison to Calixta, who is a grown woman and the mother of Bibi, ye she all control due to her own fears.

However, the relationship between Calixta and Alcee is much deeper than it appears, their acts of adultery and the passion they shared was because of the storm. The story ends with everyone happy and secrets kept. The storm is not only the setting, it is also the center of the irony. For example Calixta and Alcee find themselves in each other’s arms, then the story proceeds to explain and depict their sexual interaction, ultimately ending the story with a secret affair. From the beginning of the story to the climax then the end, the storm matches the scenery throughout the whole story. The last few stanzas in the story is the ultimate comparison to the storm. The text states “As for Clarisse, she was charmed upon receiving her husband’s letter. She and the babies were doing well. The society was agreeable; many of her old friends and acquaintances were at the bay. And the first free breath since her marriage seemed to restore the pleasant liberty of her maiden days. Devoted as she was to her husband, their intimate conjugal life was something which she was more than willing to forego for a while.So the storm passed and every one was happy.” (Chopin 99). Concluding that “The Storm” is the real irony present.

Realism was a vast literary movement characteristic of mid-nineteenth century, as an antiromantic reaction which emphasizes the relationship between art and reality. The indispensable tool of the artist’s art is careful observation of reality and it is true and objective reflection in written work. “Désirée’s baby” by Kate Chopin is a story with many characteristics of realism work.

The story is set in Louisiana, it has no fictional characters and no divine intervention, showing us the society class of that time and also develops on real life struggles that were more likely to be found during that time period. We know Kate Chopin grew up in Missouri and lived for a period in Louisiana. She wrote the story after the slavery was abolished, and it was first published in 1893 (ref). Even if she is not telling us what year the story is taking place in, we can see based on some characteristics of pre-Civil War that the action takes place in the South, showing us the author’s views of a society, she had been living in. The use of the word bayou is an example of this: “she disappeared among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the bank of the deep, sluggish bayou”(pg.446, par. 4).

Realism focuses on a natural way of living. The “bayou” word is a representative of the Louisiana region meaning swamps area that are geographically characteristics of that region. Another way of seeing the setting was developed there are the French names of all the characters : Madame Valmondé, Armand Aubigny, La Blanche and even the plantation their house is on is called L’Abri. We are also informed that “ French was the language spoken at Valmondé in those days”( pg. 443, par. 7). Another characteristic of South setting and also of the class difference between poor and rich is the mention of the slaves Armand owned. As the nineteenth century went on, industrialization and urbanization led to major social and economic changes. The rich and poor became divided, so the Romantic writers were focusing their writing on social class. These elements are the best reflected in Kate Chopin’s story. Both, Désirée and Armand come from rich families, and when rich at that time they owned the lower class of people, slaves. His plantation, L’Abri, owned by his father at first, Monsieur Aubigny, saw better times under the old owner.

The old Monsieur Aubigny was kind and indulgent towards his slaves, but Armand’s rule “was a strict one, too, and under it his negroes had forgotten how to be gay”(pg. 443, par.4). The role of Realist writers was to write about everyday people doing everyday things. No influences of mystical characters were present in this story. Desiree has been adopted by the Valmonde family and they never questioned her history. They have loved and erase the child and she “grew to be beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere, -the idol of Valmondé (pg. 443, pr,. 1). Her character is showing much dependency on her husband and how he perceives her. In that history times everything was done based on what the men wanted. Women roles in a marriage was to carry and erase the child, take care of the house, and to be at the husband disposal. Desiree fits the character perfectly.

The story reveals that she never questioned her husband, even when he was gone to La Blanche cabin the month after she had the baby “Armand heard him the other day as far away as La Blanche’s cabin”( pg. 444, par. 2). Her trust in him was unquestionable and in the end when he didn’t want her there anymore she chooses to kill herself. Madame Valmondé character shows the love a mother can have. For her it didn’t matter where the girl was coming from or what origins might she have. She loved Desiree and thought “she had been sent to her by a beneficent Providence to be the child of her affection” (pg. 443, par. 1). Because of the historical times this story is set on we can assume that no aricstocat family would have ever accepted a bi-racial grandson, but Madame Valmondé did not care about that. She wrote Desiree the letter, inviting her to go home with her baby to the mother that loves her “come home to Valmondé; back to your mother who loves you. Come with your child”(pg. 445, par. 12)

The difference between Madame Valmondé and Armand Aubigny has astonished me. He didn’t show any love in him. Even though he stops treating the slaves badly after Desiree had the child, he is described by Chopin as a cruel owner and someone that will probably treat his wife the same way he treats his slaves. The way the story develops, he can be considered a cheater and someone with no character. When the baby was three months old Desiree looked at one of La Blanche’s son and then at her baby and discovered the resemblance. Maybe not of the black color but most of the resemblance the kids had between them by having the same dad. “She looked from her child to the boy who stood beside him, and back again; over and over. Ah! It was a cry she could not help”(pg. 444).

The ultimate power of men in those time give us a taste for the social issues problems they had then. He loved her at the beginning of the story but as soon as he presumed she was black he turned the love bottom off and was capable to push her and their son away from their home.

In Kate Chopin’s “Desiree’s Baby” is a brief story that was originally published in 1893, under the title of “The Father of Désiree’s Baby,” in Vogue magazine. The story is narrated in a third person. The main protagonist is Desiree, who was abandoned as a baby and was later found in the ruins which soon she got adopted by the Minister and Madame Valmonde. Everywhere the story, we can see the ideas of what is the story’s purpose which is love, racism, and destructive prejudice within the antebellum French Creole culture in Louisiana during civil war times. The historical setting of Chopin’s story helps develop the themes and characters with a plot twist. The Valmondés, who is portrayed as plantation owners, are established as wealthy and white. Their adoption of Désirée affirms their kindness, despite their economic prosperity. Her adoptive father finds Désirée in the shadow of the stone pillar. This shadow symbolizes the skepticism of her origins. The pillar is also an indication of the wealth and property of the Valmondés, and Désirée’s appearance there introduces her into a world of privilege. “ The passion that awoke in him that day, when he saw at the gate, swept along like an avalanche, or like a prairie fire, or like anything that drives headlong over all obstacles.”

Love- Désirée senses the dilemma before she consciously confesses it. This speaks to the theme of Love and Blindness in the story. Because Désirée loves her son, it takes her longer than everyone else to acknowledge the truth. Armand does not understand that because he doesn’t want a child who is not white.

Race- “ When the baby is born, Armand is at first delighted. However, the baby’s skin color soon shows signs of the baby being a “quadroon” or “ octoroon”— either 1⁄4 or ⅛ African. Armand assumes that because of Désiree’s unknown parentage that she is part black.” When her mother came to visit her and the baby after three months without seeing them. She points out and says that that is not her grandson. Which made désiree upset, but she doesn’t know her background history and ancestors. Which made her uncomfortable after comparing her son to one of the servants tending her son. When she saw the similarities, she went to go tell Armand when he gets home. When Armand arrives back home, Desiree asks him about the baby. He responds that indeed the baby is not white, which means that she is not white either. Desiree points out all her physical features that strongly suggest that she is white, but her angry husband tells her she is as white as their mixed-race slaves.

“Armand,” she called to him, in a voice which must have stabbed him, if he was human. But he did not notice. “Armand,” she said again Then she rose and tottered towards him. “Armand,” she panted once more, clutching his arm, “ look at our child. What does it mean? Tell me.” He coldly but gently loosened her fingers from 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. ‘

Confront her, but reverts to his cruel nature. This shows Armand’s immediate decision to blame his wife for their child’s appearance, as well as the way that racial issues were connected with such shame—because of the institution of slavery—that no one among the white plantation slave owners could even discuss it

Destructive prejudice-Armand wants to strike out against what he sees as his cruel “fate “of having a black child, and he does this by striking out at his wife. Yet just as Madame Valmondé interpreted her “fate” of finding Désirée as a blessing, Armand’s “fate” is defined by his acceptance of racist and sexist ideas. Désirée is the same person she was before—she has done absolutely nothing wrong or cruel. So Armand seals his fate as cruel by refusing to see beyond race. Meanwhile, Désirée’s shame at being black is so great, that she chooses to throw away her and her child’s life rather than return to her loving mother Armand’s treatment

Of Désirée shows that he is ashamed, on the one hand, and no longer sees her as a person worthy of respect to the other. He does not lash out at her, but ignores her, as if she has lost her right to sympathy and care. Désirée’s beauty made him not care about her “mysterious past” when he thought that in the past was one of the poor parents that he owns, but when he believes it is, in fact, poverty of mixed racial heritage it becomes overwhelmingly important and shameful to him. Proud, arrogant, and cruel, as his treatment of his slaves has previously shown, Armand confronts Désirée. She denies being of African descent, and she writes to her mother, begging her for help. Madame Valmondé responds that she and the baby should return home to the Valmondé estate. However, her letter does not reach Désirée in time. Scornful and disbelieving of Désirée’s claims, Armand insists that Désirée and the baby leave at once. Désirée walks off with the baby in her arms into the bayou; they are never seen again.

Armand burns all of Désirée’s belongings on the front lawn, including the baby’s cradle. He also burns all of the love letters Désirée sent him during their courtship; however, one letter in the bundle is a letter from Armand’s mother to his father, which Armand reads. In this letter, Armand’s mother reveals that Armand is part black, through her lineage. Désirée’s ancestry is never disclosed. The bonfire symbolizes Armand’s wealth as well as the intersection of classism, racism, and sexism. Armand can afford to destroy Désirée’s possessions, which are the marks of feminine beauty. He doesn’t do this work, but directs his slaves to do it. Both the gifts he gave Désirée and the idea that he can eliminate her from his life by burning them indicate how Armand always viewed Désirée as a possession rather than as a person.

Désirée’s reaction shows that she is afraid of having a child who appears black.

Though Chopin sets her story to purposefully touch on the troubling history and continuation of racism in the United States, which is still occurring in current events today. By exposing Armand’s racism and hatred for his wife and child, whom he previously adored so dearly, Chopin reveals how deeply-embedded prejudice and racism are among the privileged, “white” French Creoles. Many modern literary critics observe and admire Chopin’s themes and writing techniques, which incorporate with use of Creole dialect and culture that add that realistic effect to her story. Another aspect of Chopin’s writing: women’s roles and the need for women’s rights and equality which showed when Désirée was in a pitiful, despairing dilemma, once Armand banishes her and the baby.

Who we are and how we identify ourselves is an important part in human society. People look towards the people and belongings around them to define themselves in life. For example, being an orphan can make a person feel empty and abandoned, unfulfilled as a person. As people get older, they get married and have children, giving them an additional form of identity. The marriage between Desiree Valmonde and Armand Aubigny is an example of how prejudice became the destruction of their relationship. By examining Desiree Valmone’s unknown origins and Armand Aubigny coming from an upper-class family, there is clarity in that Armand’s pride supersedes his love for his wife when faced with problems of racism.

The short story ‘Desiree’s Baby’, written by Kate Chopin, takes place before the Civil War era when slavery of the usual norm. The adopted daughter of Monsieur and Madame Valmonde, Desiree, was left by a pillar at the gateway of the Valmonde’s plantation as a little toddler, the same pillar where she eighteen years later falls in love and marries Armand Aubigny, the rich, admirable neighbor next door, in L’Abri, Louisiana. Armand is dark and handsome and often seen as a strict and stern owner by the slaves until the brith of his and Desiree’s baby, where he had proven to be easier going. As the months go by, Armand grows to be suspicious of his baby’s colored features blaming Desiree for this happening. He acts angrily and hateful, is disgusted with his wife and burns all her finest clothing and gifts he provided her at their wedding. Armand eventually tells Desiree and the baby to leave and are to be never seen again. In the midst of him collecting more of Desiree’s items to burn, Armand finds a letter in the back of a dresser drawer written by his deceased mother stating that he ‘belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery’ (insert citation here)’.

Chopin uses symbolism throughout the story to convey her message of racism and prejudice. The story begins with Monsieur Valmonde finding Desiree abandoned in the shadows of the stone pillar, depicting a mysterious feeling like Desiree and her unknown life. Chopin goes on to describe the moment Desiree gives birth and the purity she holds within herself where she ‘lay full length, in her soft white muslins and laces’ (insert citation her). When Madame Valmonde goes to visit Desiree in L’Abri, the plantation is described as what some would describe gothic, dark and dreary. ‘The roof came down steep and black like a cowl… and their thick leaved, far-reaching branches shadowed it like a pall’ (insert citation here). Chopin uses alliteration in some points of the story to describe Armand’s attitude stating ‘the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to hold of him’ when he turned on his family and took out his problems out on the slaves’ (insert citation here). Another form of figurative language Chopin presents us with is when Desiree makes the connection when she looks at the salve boy’s skin color and then back at her baby. ‘The blood turned like ice in her veins’ (insert citation here). She was in shock in fright for her son was of color. There was another connection going back to the stone pillar when Chopin says, ‘ She was like a stone image; silent, white, motionless’ (insert citation here). Desiree and her baby leave the plantation down the ‘broad, beaten road’ never to be seen again (insert citation here). The last key point of symbolism is in the end of the story when Armand is having the bonfire of all Desiree’s finest clothing and possessions while at the same time showing his position of wealth. This is significant because he is burning all her items to remove his memories of his wife and baby.

The tone throughout this short story is a tragic and depressing mainlt because racism was such a mjor issue in this time period. Having a baby in the Civil War era can cause families to question the looks of their baby if not white. Being of color was frowned upon and it meant that a person was of a lower class. Throughout the whole story, Desiree was submissive to her husband as it was common to obey and do what a woman was told. For example, when Desiree asks her husband if she should leave his plantation and he obliged, she had no choice but to comply. Had it not been a world where being of color was seen as a negative concept, Armand’s mother might have told him when he got to an age of understanding that he was a man of color and not lost the opportunity to have an everlasting life with his wife and child.

Racism and prejudice played a strong theme in this short story. Armand lets his pride overpower his love for his wife and child simply because of the color of skin. True love knows no colors. Armand took no time to figure out how two people could produce a biracial baby and instead of looking at both side, he was so quick to only believe what he though and that was to put the blame on his wife. Armand so confident of his lineage and his race but little did he know, he was the one of color and because of his mother, had been able to avoid racism towards him all his life.

Villains, superheroes, and monsters–all of these are characters with which the reader is familiar. Authors use many techniques to develop the personalities of these characters to the readers. Authors use literary elements such as inner dialogue, appearance, and name meaning to create the characters. In “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin, Chopin uses internal thoughts, the plot, and the setting to make Desiree the protagonist of the story.

Desiree has internal conflicts with herself throughout the whole story. As we all know Desiree has fair skin. So she always seems to question herself whether she is half black or not. She has a lot of suicidal thoughts. She wants to be white so badly, she would rather be dead if she can not. This story took place in the mid-1800s, during this time period African Americans were slaves and discriminated against.

As we said this story took place during a time where African Americans were frowned upon in the southern state of Louisiana. It is a time period before the Civil War was fought. During a racist time period, things were not great form Desiree. Her husband who she came to love turns out to be racist. He begins to be very cruel to her and their baby. Desiree seemed like the perfect woman for Armand despite her fair skin complexion. In fact, Chopin says “For the girl grew to be beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere,–the idol of Valmonde”.

The plot plays a big part in Desiree being the antagonist. The first line of the story mentions Desiree and her baby. The Valmondes adopted Desiree after falling deeply in love with her after they found her. Armand comes into her life, later on, in the story in which the two wed. They have a baby, Desiree wakes up one morning and discovers something odd. Her baby boy is black. Armand is not happy about this at all. We come to find out that Armand is racist.

Armand soon kicks Desiree out and blames her for the child not being fully white. We come to find out that Armand is to blame for the baby’s complexion. He is not purely white, he is embarrassed by his newfound truth. Because African Americans were not accepted into the society around this time Desiree and the baby leaves never to be heard of again. And because of Armands racism and hateful ways he loses the love of his life.

Desiree is obviously the protagonist of the story. The story basically follows her actions. Soon as the story starts it provides background information about Desiree. About how she was abandoned by her birth parents. Then soon adopted by the Valmonde family. Her skin complexion also plays a big role in the story and how her son is black. Which causes her to lose the love of her life Armand, who is racist. The story ends with Desiree leaving town form good with her baby.