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Desiree's Baby

Decent Essays

Rotten apple in the 18s society

In the short story “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin was published 1893, and story takes place in Louisiana before the American Civil War. She illustrates social norm of the time and reflects her feminism by showing impact on protagonist as story unfolds.
Kate, as a feminist reflects phases of time in her most of work, especially depicts social segregation of acceptability in phases of time, 1800s. In the short story, she uses irony and turnover ending as a literary device to deliver messages to readers by criticizing ruling class, racism and gender roles.
The story illustrates how misconstructed ideology and inequality of human rights destroy and result negative impact differently depending on social status …show more content…

Protagonist’s name Desiree means “desired” in French which can be considered as an object of desire rather than human being. It emphasizes dominance of husband over his wife, mother of a children. Purity, devotion, obedience was compelled upon woman, as it still exists. In the story, “When he frowned she trembled, but loved him. When he smiled, she asked no greater blessing of God.(5)” shows wife’s low voice and dominance of husband’s mood over her own and also ”Shall I go, Armand?" she asked in tones sharp with agonized suspense.(5)” emphasize subservient Desiree to her husband Armand. Kate depicts authority and power of the men by illustrating Armand’s decision making when he lets Desiree leave with her, his own baby and decides to burn his mother’s letter to hide his own dark identity which affects not only his fate but also his wife and son. He made decisions prior to his own well over family and Desiree accept his decision without any refutation. Kate contrasts female’s passive objectivity and male’s active role in a family, society by describing male’s concentrated authority in the

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