Mistreatment In Desiree's Baby By Kate Chopin

"Desiree's Baby" is Kate Chopin's most well-known short story and most anthologized piece of work. The story takes place in southern Louisiana and her writing reflects her Creole-French descent. Chopin begins the story with a descriptive quote, "when she reached L'Abri she shuddered at the first sight of it, as she always did. It was a sad looking place...Big solemn oaks grew close to it and their thick leaved, far-reaching branches shadowed it like a pall" (185). The preceding quote gives the reader an eerie feeling and foreshadows an unpleasant ending to the story. Throughout "Desiree's Baby," Kate Chopin uses symbolism to convey her themes of racial prejudice, unequal gender roles, and

Imagine finding out that your entire life was a lie, and that every single thing you knew about your identity and your family was completely false! Armand Aubigny, one of the main characters in Desiree’s Baby by Kate Chopin, experiences this exact dilemma throughout this short story. Desiree’s Baby is a story about a young man and woman, who fall in love, but Desiree, who does not know her birth parents, is considered nameless. When she and Armand have a child, they are both very surprised because the child’s skin color is not white as expected. It is obvious that the child is biracial, and immediately, Desiree is blamed for the color of the child’s skin because of her uncertain background. The truth, however, is that it is Armand who has

Moreover, when Armand and Desiree’s baby is born, Armand’s behavior transforms a little: “he hasn’t punished one of them – not one of them – since the baby is born. Even Negrillon, who pretended to have burnt his leg that he might rest from work – he only laughed, and said Negrillon was a scump. Oh, mamma, I’m so happy; it frightens me” (Chopin 540). Armand becomes a little more tolerant towards the slaves, but it can be inferred that he is a master who punishes his workers, is harsh, and has no consideration towards them. Armand views blacks and anyone being of the mixed-race inferior to the race to which he belonged.

These insights are on the topic of Chopin’s view of feminism. Chopin portrays Desiree as a very virtuous and woman. However, Armand Aubigny is portrayed as an individual to be feared and not a very likeable character in general. Armand falsely accused Desiree for the blackness in their baby, as he knows well that he “belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery” (Chopin 632). In the heated argument between Armand and Desiree, Desiree pleads to Armand that she is not black and is white to which Armand rudely responds “As white as La Blanche’s” (Chopin 631). Furthermore, Chopin’s portrayal of the other women is positive with no glaring character flaws in Mme. Valmondé and Armand’s mother. Valmondé is described as a loving mother to the orphaned Desiree. Furthermore, her loving attributes are highlighted as she asks Desiree to return home. Overall, in “Desiree’s Baby”, the description of the female is much more positive than that of the male as portrays the respectable characters of Desiree and Aubigny who are contrasted with despicable characters like Armand.

“American Slavery, 1619-1877” by Peter Kolchin gives an overview of the practice of slavery in America between 1619 and 1877. From the origins of slavery in the colonial period to the road to its abolition, the book explores the characteristics of slave culture as well as the racial mind-sets and development of the old South’s social structures.

My paper is an attempt to analyze the entire era of slavery and its later effects upon the lives of Africans who were brought forcefully to America as slaves and even after its abolition were treated inhumanly. My major attempt is to get an in depth insight of the struggles of these people for their survival in such an environment and the predicament of black women who were doubly oppressed; were the victims of both the whites and black men; and treated as naked savages and beasts, with Alice Walker’ masterpiece and Pulitzer prize winning The Color Purple. I have taken this project with my keen interest because the novel touched me deeply and I wanted to analyze it thoroughly.

Chopin Shows that back then race was everything. It meant so much that people would consider you subhuman or worthless if u had any in your blood line, it also ruined relationships and caused the feeling of disgrace. Armand took this serious he was the typical stereotype. Armand was the master of the L'Abri plantation; he was a strict master who treated the slaves cruel. So much that, the narrator says, “The negroes had forgotten how to be gay.” So you can imagine the thought of him finding out his child was of color. When he found out all hell broke loose. He wanted no parts of Desiree or the baby after finding out. He even said it was Desiree’s fault because she has some Negro blood in her. Desiree’s reaction was priceless instead of fighting for her baby and herself; she just felt disgrace and couldn’t believe she would have some Negro blood in her. She even says it’s a lie, gives her whole

In the short story Désirée’s Baby, by Kate Chopin, surprise plays a very important role. Although the story has a surprise ending it can still have a second look with interest. While rereading the story I look for the details, which foreshadow the ending, that were missed the first time reading the story. But when I started to look for hints of foreshadowing I found that Chopin is doing more than tell us a story about a couple. She is trying to convey a message to the reader. Désirée’s Baby is like an intricate Aesop’s fable, or a fable for adults. Also an analysis of the characters helps us understand the story and it’s meaning. The main character, which presents the conflict in the story, is Armand Aubigny. To fully understand the story

Armand is an interesting, and complex character. The principal characters in this story are Armand, Desiree, and their baby. Armand interacts violently and viciously; so violent it is stated "His negroes had forgotten to be gay" (Chopin). Armand's actions, words, and thoughts reveal a deeply violent and passionate man. Armand changes throughout the story. He starts as a strict and angry man, "Young Aubigny's rule was a strict one, too" (Chopin), but as he falls in love his heart grows soft, "He hasn't punished one of them - not one of them – since baby is born" (Chopin). Three months later he notices his child's dark complexion, afterward he becomes more angry and malicious than ever before, "The very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take

Over the development of centuries, the aggressive transportation in enslavement of millions men, women, and children from their African native land to the Americas alternated permanently the outview and aspect of the current world. The slave trade remained remorseless and dreadful, and the enslavement of Africans was painful, and dehumanizing. All together, this horrific event symbolizes as one of the most longest and continuous assaults on the life, and dignity of human beings in American history.

In the short story, “Desiree’s Baby”, written by Kate Chopin. Chopin’s story is about a girl named Desiree. She gets adopted by a wealthy family after they find her abandoned. The family of Valmonde give her everything she needs, and even help her get married to a wealthy man with the noble roots. The only issue is that once she gives birth to her first child everyone notice that the newborn has a darker tone of skin thsn the rest of the family.

Kate Chopin, the author of "Desiree's Baby" developed many themes throughout this story. In each theme, there is a representation of something during the time period. The setting of Chopin's story builds up the topics and the characters. The historical background of this short story is slavery. However, this story was composed in 1892, which was twenty-seven years after slavery was abrogated, but it took place during the era of slavery. In the story, Armand is a slave owner in Louisiana. Likewise, the background puts race and legacy into the story as the key focuses to be seen and caught on. The hypothesis that is applied in the story is that of Cultural Studies. The social examinations focuses on how and the way a specific subject identifies with social class, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, and race. The Valmondés, who are depicted as plantation owners, are set up as well off and white. Their appropriation of Desiree stresses their benevolence, in spite of their financial flourishing. Her adoptive father discovers Desiree in the shadow of the stone pillar. This shadow symbolizes the mystery of her origin and the column is likewise a sign of the riches and property of the Valmondés. Desiree's appearance there brings her into a universe of benefit.

The history books harbor numerous accounts of worldwide and state-run human oppression. The accounts display that the want for labor often influenced the practice of coercion and violence. While reviewing the work of Dr. Delridge, L Hunter in The death of the Negro volume I, 2, and 3 it became clear that a degree of unequal actions molded a form of inferior status that shape the Negro call to freedom songs. To name the weapon with which the colonial United States of America brought about unnecessary sorrow, demands examining the floor plan of this institution called slavery. The project involves discovering how the African’s ideologies survived under European values in the United States of America. The study shows the coercive practices of the Europeans tenets that ensured the involuntary cooperation of the slave.

The history books hold many accounts of oppression on the international and national level. These accounts indicate that the need for labor frequently promoted a practice of distinctive dominance of the least favorite group. To identify the weapon that caused the unnecessary sorrow in the colonial United States of America is to examine the floor plan of this institution called slavery. The project involves discovering how the African’s ideologies survived under European values in the United States of America. The study will display the coercive practices of the Europeans tenets that ensured the involuntary collaboration of the slave. By studying the work of Delridge, L Hunter The death of the Negro. Vol. I, 2, and 3 uncovers a form of inferior status and unequal action.

Chopin was an American novelist and she also wrote many short stories. Chopin was a feminist pioneer movement on American literature and the world. Chopin was born in St. Louis Missouri on February 8, 1850. Her father was an Irish immigrant who was a very successful businessman. Chopin father died when she was a little girl. For that reason, she grew up with her mother and grandmother since she was a child. She was an insatiable reader and that was her favory pass time. Chopin developed a fine taste for a literature in general, what make her select for her readings the greater and important master of that time.