Story ?DÉsirÉe?s Baby?. Essay, Research Paper
p>? ?DÉsirÉe?s Baby? is a short story written by Kate Chopin.? Around the period when this story was
written, a lot of racism and prejudice was present within American
society.? The 19th century
was a difficult time for both women and blacks, due to the domination of white
men. A mixed background was not tolerated, therefore the history and background
of a person was very important, to the status of a family and their social
placement.?? Some whites that were not
racist still had to follow the common social guidelines, or else risk social
death.? ?DÉsirÉe?s Baby? displays
aspects of a mixed background and the problems it produced within the 19th
century.? Racism, within the story,
isn?t openly discussed but it is clearly covered. ? Armand Aubigny is a person of high status, who owns the L?Abri
plantation.? He is faced with a family
secret that has been hidden from him.?
However, throughout the story certain aspects can convey the fact that
Armand knew the secret all along.?
DÉsirÉe is a young woman who has been adopted by a wealthy family.? She marries Armand and has his child, but is
eventually forced to leave. ?? Knowing that a marriage of mixed race was against social
standards Armand marries a friend, DÉsirÉe, from his youth ?he had known her
since his father brought him home from Paris, a boy of eight?.? As DÉsirÉe was found and adopted, there was
no way of knowing her background ?had found her lying asleep?she was
nameless?.? Despite this Armand fell in
love with her ?fell in love, as if struck by a pistol shot?, this concept of
immediate love is more likely to be infatuation.? DÉsirÉe?s background was of no concern to Armand ?Armand looked
into his eyes and did not care?What did it matter about a name?.? This is one of the aspects, which may convey
that Armand knew his family?s secret, for his was just marrying DÉsirÉe to
cover up his background, and to solve a problem.? Within the story a certain part of the text that backs up this
assumption ?Armand?s dark handsome face had not often been disfigured by frowns
since the day he fell in love with her?. ? Monsieur Aubigny is not a very racist character, for we discover
that he was married to a black woman, also he treated his slaves with
compassion and kindness ?married and buried his wife in France?Easy-going and
indulgent lifetime?.? Unlike his father
Armand is very racist, and is very strict and overpowering towards the slaves
?Young Aubigny?s rule was a strict one too?his Negroes had forgotten how to be
gay?.? This is another aspect, which may
convey the reasons of his racism; that he was simply paranoid about the truth
of his background.? However, after his
marriage and after the birth of his son, his dealings towards the slaves
changed ?softened Armand Aubigny?s imperious and exacting nature greatly?. ? At Madame ValmondÉ?s visit she instantly notices that the baby is
not purely white ?This is not the baby?She scanned the baby narrowly, then
looked as searchingly at Zandrine?.? She
did not mention anything to her daughter, I think this shows her concern and
hope for DÉsirÉe?s future.? ? It isn?t until the baby is three months old that everyone begins
to notice the change in the baby ?there was something in the air menacing her
peace?air of mystery among the blacks?visits from far-off neighbours?avoided her presence and that of her child?.? Armand, realizing his child is a quadroon
baby, he returns to his old racist self ?the very spirit of Satan seemed
suddenly to take hold of him in his dealings with the slaves?.? DÉsirÉe realizes
the truth about her baby ?she
looked from her child to the boy who stood beside him, and back again, over and
over?, no sooner then she does this, Armand confronts her.? He automatically assumes it is DÉsirÉe who
is not purely white ?the child is not white; it means that you are not
white?.? DÉsirÉe adamantly denies
Armand?s accusations ?It is a lie it is not true, I am white?Look at my hand;
whiter than yours Armand?.? To try and
prove to Armand that she is white, she writes a letter to her mother asking if
she?s white ?My mother, they tell me that I am not white?For God?s sake tell
them it is not true.? You must know it
is not true?.? Madame ValmondÉ does not
answer DÉsirÉe?s questions, her reply simply demonstrates her unconditional
love and the fact that she isn?t racist ?Come home to ValmondÉ; back to your
mother who loves you.? Come with your
child?. ? After receiving the letter she approaches Armand.? He not only displays his racism, but also
how he?d give up his wife and child to remain a person of high status within
society ?Yes, I want you to go?He no longer loved her, because of the
unconscious injury she had brought upon his home and name?.? This quote also supports my belief that
Armand was simply infatuated with DÉsirÉe, for if he was truly in love with her
he wouldn?t care if she was black or not.?
DÉsirÉe left the plantation with her baby.? She made the fateful decision that, because racism and prejudice
was present within society, there was no hope for a future for her and her
child.? This decision lead to her
suicide and to the infanticide of her baby ?She disappeared among the reeds and
willows?And she did not come back again?. ? Armand had always been dominant and in control of everything
around him, therefore he never had anything to fear.? However, now his child was a quadroon baby, he feared the chance
of social rejection.? He ordered for
everything of DÉsirÉe and the baby?s to be burnt, showing he had no plans for
having anymore children ?Great bonfire?The material which kept this fire
ablaze?A graceful cradle of willow?Last thing to go was a tiny bundle of
letters?.? During this emotional and
rash moment he discovered a letter ?It was part of an old letter from his
mother to his father?.? This letter
revealed the truth to Armand?s background ?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?.? The story comes to a close here, displaying
a very tragic irony.? The wife and child
he once loved and simply gave up, were innocent of his resentment and his
accusations.? God did enact the final
revenge on Armand, with the appearance of a simple
letter with tragic significance. ? Even though this
story never openly discusses themes of racism, there are many aspects of racism
within the story.? Overall I think that
Kate Chopin was trying to teach the reader that even though social attitudes
change, prejudice, hatred and racism will still exist within aspects of
society.???? ??