Desiree's Baby
Encyclopedia
Désirée’s Baby is a short story written by American author Kate Chopin
, published in 1893, it is about miscegenation
in Creole
Louisiana
during the antebellum period.
in Louisiana
. As a baby, she was discovered by Monsieur Valmondé lying in the shadow of a stone pillar near the Valmondé gateway. She is courted by another wealthy, well-known and respected scion of a Creole family, Armand. They appear very devoted to one another and eventually have a child. People who see the baby get a sense that something is unusual about it. Eventually they realize that the baby's skin is the same color as a quadroon (one-quarter African) slave boy - the baby is not white. At the setting of the story, this would have been considered a terrible taint.
Because of Désirée’s unknown roots, Armand immediately assumes that she is part Black, leading him to be mean to his slaves. Désirée tries to deny the accusation but Madame Valmondé suggests that Désirée and the baby return to the Valmondé estate. Armand, scornful with Désirée, insists on her going. Désirée then takes the child and walks off into a bayou
, never to be seen again. Armand then proceeds to burn all of Désirée’s belongings, even the child’s cradle, as well as all of the letters that she had sent him during their courtship. With this bundle of letters is also one written from his mother to his father, revealing that Armand is, in fact, the one who is part black. Désirée's race is never definitively determined, although after she is dismissed:
, and naturalism
, the story is difficult to classify, in part because it is extremely short. The fact that the story leaves the moral statement up to the reader would suggest that it is
of naturalism, but the fairytale-like elements of the love story are inconsistent with either naturalism or realism
. Furthermore the atmosphere of the story and the characterization of Armand create gothic
undertones.
The themes in Désirée’s Baby include American slavery
, miscegenation
, and the difficulty of assigning race. It could also be argued that the story is a work of early feminism
.
The story also seems to be a transposition of De Maupassant's "The Story of A Farm Girl."
tenuous stabilities” . One of the greatest examples of that willingness that Chopin wanted to express was presented in the short story “Désirée’s Baby.” In this story, it not only confronts the racial
issues that took place during the time of slavery but also draws upon the reader’s emotions to experience how people thought during that time period. Kate Chopin brought attention to the racial issues that existed during the times of slavery through her short story “Désirée’s Baby” which introduces the two main characters in the story, Désirée and Armand, and creates many symbolisms, ironies, and themes seen throughout the story.
Armand, and Désirée are the two main characters that are talked about in the story “Désirée’s Baby.” There are many symbols seen throughout the story “Désirée’s Baby.” The first major symbolism seen continuously throughout the story is that of light and dark. Irony plays a big part in the story. There are many outlying themes in the story “Désirée’s Baby.” One of the themes that Kate Chopin wanted readers to understand was that nothing good could come from making too rash of assumptions or being too quick to judge someone or something. This story obviously identifies racial issues, but more than that the story allows the reader to see that Armand is as much a slave as the actual slaves that he controls. These themes reach deep into the reader’s mind and really makes the reader think about the many issues of race in society today as well as the racial issues of the past. Kate Chopin wrote the story “Désirée’s Baby” with a general idea of what she wanted to say. She brings together these two characters that are completely different and opposite of each other. Armand and Désirée have many differences beginning with where they come from, their family background, and their overall personalities. Throughout the story there are also many symbolic, ironic, and general themes given to the reader to interpret and think about.
Kate Chopin
Kate Chopin, born Katherine O'Flaherty , was an American author of short stories and novels. She is now considered by some to have been a forerunner of feminist authors of the 20th century....
, published in 1893, it is about miscegenation
Miscegenation
Miscegenation is the mixing of different racial groups through marriage, cohabitation, sexual relations, and procreation....
in Creole
Louisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
during the antebellum period.
Plot summary
Désirée is the adopted daughter of Monsieur and Madame Valmondé, who are wealthy CreolesLouisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. As a baby, she was discovered by Monsieur Valmondé lying in the shadow of a stone pillar near the Valmondé gateway. She is courted by another wealthy, well-known and respected scion of a Creole family, Armand. They appear very devoted to one another and eventually have a child. People who see the baby get a sense that something is unusual about it. Eventually they realize that the baby's skin is the same color as a quadroon (one-quarter African) slave boy - the baby is not white. At the setting of the story, this would have been considered a terrible taint.
Because of Désirée’s unknown roots, Armand immediately assumes that she is part Black, leading him to be mean to his slaves. Désirée tries to deny the accusation but Madame Valmondé suggests that Désirée and the baby return to the Valmondé estate. Armand, scornful with Désirée, insists on her going. Désirée then takes the child and walks off into a bayou
Bayou
A bayou is an American term for a body of water typically found in flat, low-lying areas, and can refer either to an extremely slow-moving stream or river , or to a marshy lake or wetland. The name "bayou" can also refer to creeks that see level changes due to tides and hold brackish water which...
, never to be seen again. Armand then proceeds to burn all of Désirée’s belongings, even the child’s cradle, as well as all of the letters that she had sent him during their courtship. With this bundle of letters is also one written from his mother to his father, revealing that Armand is, in fact, the one who is part black. Désirée's race is never definitively determined, although after she is dismissed:
"Moreover [Armand] no longer loved her, because of the unconscious injury she had brought upon his home and his name.."
Themes and literary classification
Though Kate Chopin is usually considered to be a writer of American realismAmerican realism
300px|thumb|[[Ashcan School]] artists & friends at [[John French Sloan]]'s Philadelphia Studio, 1898American realism was an early 20th century idea in art, music and literature that showed through these different types of work, reflections of the time period...
, and naturalism
Naturalism (literature)
Naturalism was a literary movement taking place from the 1880s to 1940s that used detailed realism to suggest that social conditions, heredity, and environment had inescapable force in shaping human character...
, the story is difficult to classify, in part because it is extremely short. The fact that the story leaves the moral statement up to the reader would suggest that it is
of naturalism, but the fairytale-like elements of the love story are inconsistent with either naturalism or realism
Realism (arts)
Realism in the visual arts and literature refers to the general attempt to depict subjects "in accordance with secular, empirical rules", as they are considered to exist in third person objective reality, without embellishment or interpretation...
. Furthermore the atmosphere of the story and the characterization of Armand create gothic
Gothic fiction
Gothic fiction, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror, is a genre or mode of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. Gothicism's origin is attributed to English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto, subtitled "A Gothic Story"...
undertones.
The themes in Désirée’s Baby include American slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, miscegenation
Miscegenation
Miscegenation is the mixing of different racial groups through marriage, cohabitation, sexual relations, and procreation....
, and the difficulty of assigning race. It could also be argued that the story is a work of early feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
.
The story also seems to be a transposition of De Maupassant's "The Story of A Farm Girl."
Analysis
According to Thomas Votteler, editor of Short Story Criticisms: Volume 8, over the years Kate Chopin has emerged as one of the greatest as well as most admired American short story writers, novelists, poets, and essayists. In many of Chopin’s stories she has transcended simple regionalism and portrayed women who seek spiritual and sexual freedom amidst the restrictive mores of nineteenth-century Southern society . Cynthia Griffin Wolf, a critic, agrees that “The vision in all of Chopin’s best fiction is consummately interior, and it draws for strength upon her willingness to confront the bleak fact of life’stenuous stabilities” . One of the greatest examples of that willingness that Chopin wanted to express was presented in the short story “Désirée’s Baby.” In this story, it not only confronts the racial
issues that took place during the time of slavery but also draws upon the reader’s emotions to experience how people thought during that time period. Kate Chopin brought attention to the racial issues that existed during the times of slavery through her short story “Désirée’s Baby” which introduces the two main characters in the story, Désirée and Armand, and creates many symbolisms, ironies, and themes seen throughout the story.
Armand, and Désirée are the two main characters that are talked about in the story “Désirée’s Baby.” There are many symbols seen throughout the story “Désirée’s Baby.” The first major symbolism seen continuously throughout the story is that of light and dark. Irony plays a big part in the story. There are many outlying themes in the story “Désirée’s Baby.” One of the themes that Kate Chopin wanted readers to understand was that nothing good could come from making too rash of assumptions or being too quick to judge someone or something. This story obviously identifies racial issues, but more than that the story allows the reader to see that Armand is as much a slave as the actual slaves that he controls. These themes reach deep into the reader’s mind and really makes the reader think about the many issues of race in society today as well as the racial issues of the past. Kate Chopin wrote the story “Désirée’s Baby” with a general idea of what she wanted to say. She brings together these two characters that are completely different and opposite of each other. Armand and Désirée have many differences beginning with where they come from, their family background, and their overall personalities. Throughout the story there are also many symbolic, ironic, and general themes given to the reader to interpret and think about.
External links
- Online copy of Désirée’s Baby from The University of Virginia: http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/ChoDesi.html