What are The racial views in Desiree's baby?
Racial views are a major component of Kate Chopin's short story Desiree's Baby. Prejudices held by the characters, particularly Armand, drive the plot and cause many of the events of the story. During the time when the story is set, people of non-white ancestry are viewed as inferior, and they are slaves or servants.
What is the theme of Desiree’s baby by Kate Chopin?
In Kate Chopin’s “Desiree’s Baby”, race and color are the separating line between being a slave or a free man or woman during the pre-Civil War era in America. Armand is a white plantation owner who is angered when he finds out that his son is black.
How did Désirée grow up?
The child, Désirée, grew up to be the pride and joy of the Valmondés. She became beautiful, kind, and loving. Eighteen years later, she was standing near the same stone pillar where she was found when Armand Aubigny rode by and fell in love with her at first sight. Like all Aubignys, young Armand fell in love dramatically.
How does Désirée look at La Blanche’s Boy?
One afternoon, Désirée is sitting in her room watching her baby who is asleep on her bed, which appears like an extravagant throne with its satin canopy. One of La Blanche ’s boys is fanning the baby using peacock feathers. Désirée stares at her baby and then looks at La Blanche’s boy and then back again.
What race is Armand in Desiree's baby?
In the letter that Armand reads from his mother reveals that it is actually Armand who was of African American descent, not Desiree. Armand's behavior stands in stark contrast to that of his father, who loved his mother regardless of her race.
How would you describe Desiree in Desiree's baby?
Désirée is Monsieur and Madame Valmondé's adoptive daughter. No one knows who her family is, but we learn that she has straight brown hair, white skin, and gray eyes. She's described as 'beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere. ' She loves her husband Armand and the infant son they have together.
What is the race of Armand's mother?
The end of the story reveals that Armand's mother, Madame Aubigny, was black, and so the appearance of his child is due to his heritage and not to Désirée's mysterious background.
How did Desiree feel about slavery?
how did desiree feel about slavery? she didn't want the slaves to be treated badly, but she didn't show any outward opposition to having them.
What kind of person is Desiree?
Désirée: Désirée is characterized as sweet and docile, allowing those around her to plan her life and take care of her. She is adopted by the wealthy Valmonde's as a child and raised in privilege and luxury, despite her unknown lineage. She is later “claimed” by Armand when he falls in love with her beauty.
What is the irony in Desiree's baby?
The story ends with a twist of situational irony: Armand discovers too late that it is he (and not his wife) who has black heritage. Armand acted upon the misjudgment that Désirée, and her unknown past, were to blame for the appearance of their baby.
Is Desiree the biological daughter of Valmonde's family?
Désirée is the adopted daughter of the Valmonde family. Madame and Monsieur Valmonde have raised Désirée since she was a toddler when they found her by the plantation's front gate. Despite the fact that her ancestry is unknown, Désirée has grown up to be the “idol of Valmonde.” She is a sweet, kind, affectionate girl.
Why do you think Armand did not consider Desiree origins before marrying her?
Why do you think Armand did not consider Desiree's origins before marrying her? He fell in love "as if struck by a pistol shot". What is the symbolism of La Blanche's name? She was a slave of mixed race.
What does La Blanche mean in Desiree's baby?
Specifically, the continual references to La Blanche (The White), one of Désirée and Armand's slaves, creates a space to question the true meaning of race.
What is the lesson of Desiree's baby?
Chopin uses a shocking ending like this to reveal her ultimate theme: that racism is wrong, and that racial purity is not a measure of a person. Love should supersede any prejudice or racist ideology, but in this case it doesn't. Instead, tragedy befalls Désirée and her baby, and ultimately Armand.
How did the Aubigny's Fall in love?
It was no wonder, when she stood one day against the stone pillar in whose shadow she had lain asleep, eighteen years before, that Armand Aubigny riding by and seeing her there, had fallen in love with her. That was the way all the Aubignys fell in love, as if struck by a pistol shot.
Why didn't Desiree go back to Valmonde why does she accept her fate without fighting what does that tell you about her role as a woman and her place in society?
What does that tell you about her role as a woman, and her place in society? Desiree decided to accept her fate rather than returning to Valmonde because she felt there was no life without her husband and felt she was a herald disgrace to not only her own bloodline but to Armand's as well.
What does the name Desiree mean?
Desiree is a girl's name of French origin, meaning "much desired." Pronounced des-i-ray, this beautiful French name was originally coined by the Puritans. It can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Désirée, Dessire, and the male version, Desiré.
What is the main message of Desiree's baby?
In 'Désirée's Baby,' Chopin sends us a message about racism. Though Armand deeply loves Désirée and his child, it isn't enough for him to overcome his ideas about race and racial purity. The irony of the story is that it is Armand who is black, not Désirée.
What's the message of Desiree's baby?
Throughout her short story "Desiree's Baby," Kate Chopin uses symbolism to convey her themes of racial prejudice, unequal gender roles, and social hierarchy in a patriarchal society. The stone pillar is a phallic symbol of firm, forced male dominance in a patriarchal society.
What is the main point in Desiree's baby?
What was the purpose of Kate Chopin writing "Desiree's Baby"? Kate Chopin wrote the story as a critique of racism and hypocrisy in French Creole society. The story's setting hints at the disintegration of slave holding society from the Chopin's vantage of late 19th century.
Who was miserable enough to die in La Blanche?
And the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his dealings with the slaves. Désirée was miserable enough to die. One of La Blanche’s little quadroon boys—half naked too— stood fanning the child slowly with a fan of peacock feathers.
What would Madame Aubigny have not felt?
Madame Aubigny would not have felt the need to hide the truth of her own background. Armand would not have turned against Désirée and their baby when their son’s appearance identified him as a mixed-race child.
What was Young Aubigny's rule?
Young Aubigny’s rule was a strict one, too, and under it his negroes had forgotten how to be gay, as they had been during the old master’s easy-going and indulgent lifetime. Related Characters: Armand. Related Themes: Page Number and Citation: 190. Cite this Quote.
What is the race and color in Desiree's Baby?
In Kate Chopin’s “Desiree’s Baby”, race and color are the separating line between being a slave or a free man or woman during the pre-Civil War era in America. Armand is a white plantation owner who is angered when he finds out that his son is black.
What does Desiree do after she marries Armand?
However they know nothing about her ancestry or history. After Desiree marries Armand she hopes that she had finally found her own real home. But in the end they find out the baby is mixed and Armand tells her to leave and take the baby with her. This is where irony, love, and race come in because Armanad said he did not care what race Desiree was he would love her no matter what but, when he found out the baby was half black he instantly tried to protect his pride and told Desiree to leave because he thought she was half black but the irony comes when he find out it was actually his fault the child was half black not…
Why did Desiree call Armand the proudest man in the parish?
Desiree once called Armand the proudest man in the parish, because he had a son that could carry out his name. However, as soon as Armand found out his son was Bi-racial he rejected him and his wife and assumed that Desiree had Black Lineage.
What does Armand compare Desiree's skin to?
This rebuttle was meant as an insult to Desiree’, for La Blanch was of mixed race, yet Armand compared her skin color to Desiree’s to prove that she was of mixed race as well.
Why does Armand not see Desiree?
However, due to the harmful effects of racism , Armand is unable to see past the fact that Desiree could be part black. Before the baby was born, Armand thought Desiree was beautiful and thought nothing of her unknown past. This is proven in the story when it states, “What did it matter about a name when he could give her one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana” (Chopin 232). After the baby, Armand was willing to hurt the woman he once loved due to the simple fact that she could be different. Armand no longer saw the pure soul of Desiree, but rather the color of her skin.…
What does the birth of the couple's child highlight?
The birth of the couple’s child also highlights the power that men have over women. The author uses both the development and the damage of their marriage to show the inferiority of women and black people during that time. As their relationship demolished, the theme of power and ethnicity still occurs in today society.
What is the phenomenon of black people comparing themselves to beauty standards made for white people?
What this phenomenon is, is best explained by Oba T’Shaka when he describes black people comparing themselves to beauty standards made for white people (p.163). Two different groups of people with distinct looks cannot be held to the same beauty standards. This is the same when comparing the black family to white families. However, in order for researchers and African American people to free themselves from western conceptual incarceration, they must be taught an alternative view. Black people, and those who research black people, need to be taught the African philosophy and cosmology and its themes.…
Introduction
The world that we live in is one of a diversity of color. White, black, yellow and red- these all exist to paint a beautiful rainbow of humanity. However, this beauty is often obscured by the very same human beings that make up this rainbow.
Main body
As seen in the story of Desiree’s baby, some of these stereotypes about races are so deep- rooted within some people and are heard to reverse. Fundamental to these stereotypes are the assumptions people have about other races. Like many people, I am well aware of some of these assumptions that some even claim to be factual.
Conclusion
Since these and many other assumptions are so deeply ingrained in us, a protracted effort needs to be initiated to get rid of these prevalent stereotypes. The first step has to begin with an individual. To rid society of these assumptions, an awakening needs to be initiated on the individual level.
Reference
How Do Americans View One Another? The Persistence of Racial/ Ethnic Stereotypes. 1998. Diversity Digest. Web.
What is Desiree's baby about?
“Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin, tells a short story of love that was instantaneously blocked by a partner who came to conclusions that his lover was of the opposite, “unworthy” race- black; the end reveals that his assumptions were in fact false and it was he himself who was of African descent. ...
Why did Desiree lose his wife?
He therefore lost his wife because of being judgmental and discriminative of the black race, without realizing he was from that same race. Works Cited. Champlin, Nikola. “Désirée’s Baby Themes: Slavery and Racism.”.
Why does Armand blame Desiree for the color change?
He automatically blames the color change on Desiree as she is the one whose identity is unknown.
Why does Armand accuse Desiree of being black?
When Desiree notices the sudden change in behavior and attitude, she decides to ask him what the problem is. Armand accuses her of being black because of the baby’s black nature. The accusation leads to her writing to her mother to enquire about her descents and remarks that if the allegations were true she would die of unhappiness (EssayLab.com, 2017). This shows that even Desiree herself regarded being black as a cause of shame, something that would lead to her unhappiness. It was a fact that she was not willing to live with as seen by her decision to decide to kill herself and the baby.
Why doesn't Desiree mention her grandson's complexion?
Despite noticing the change in complexion of her grandson, she does not mention it to Desiree because she is concerned for her and does not want to ruin her happiness. She also agrees to have her back at Valmonde when Desiree sounds desperate in her letter, despite the fact that Desiree could have a black descent.
What does Armand's behavior on noticing the change in their baby's appearance reveal?
Armand’s behavior on noticing the change in their baby’s appearance reveals a perception that was common to all whites, that a person’s race is more important than the person’s self (Champlin, 2015).
Does Armand love Desiree?
Armand falls in love with Desiree at first sight and decides to marry without caring about her background. The fact that he dismisses Monsieur Valmonde’s suggestion to have them examine Desiree’s origins demonstrates how much he loved Desiree and did not care about her origins.
What does Désirée tell her mother?
Désirée writes to her mother and tells her what has happened—that her husband has told her she is not white . She pleads with her mother to convince everyone that this is not true. She tells her mother that she will die because she cannot live with this much unhappiness. Madame Valmondé responds with a short letter that asks her daughter to come home to Valmondé. She tells her daughter to come back to the mother that loves her and to bring her baby .
Why is Désirée happy?
Her praise of Armand shows her love for him, as well as how emotionally dependent she is on her husband. Because he is proud and happy, she is happy. Active Themes. Désirée continues, lowering her voice, and confides in her mother that Armand has not punished any of his slaves since the baby ’s birth.
What is the change in Armand that Désirée describes further reveals Armand’s natural character?
The change in Armand that Désirée describes further reveals Armand’s natural character: he is cruel toward those within his power. His generosity of spirit, inspired by the joys of fatherhood, therefore is foreshadowed to be short-lived.
What does Désirée wake up with?
One day, when the baby is three months old, Désirée wakes up in the morning with the feeling that her sense of peace will not last. She has noticed the suspicious moods of the slaves as well as the unusual visits from unexpected neighbors. Then Armand undergoes a dramatic change.
What does Armand say about Désirée?
She asks. Armand responds, as he coldly removes her hand from his arm, that it means that the child is not white, and therefore she, Désirée, is not white. 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 on the other.
What does Désirée look at in the movie La Blanche?
Désirée stares at her baby and then looks at La Blanche’s boy and then back again. Suddenly, she cries aloud, as if she could not help making a noise. Her blood seems to freeze and she breaks into a sweat. She tries to speak and cannot, but eventually speaks La Blanche’s boy’s name and points him to the door.
Who greets her daughter in the house?
Related Quotes with Explanations. Madame Valmondé greets her daughter inside the house where Désirée and her baby are resting on a couch, dressed in muslins and lace. A nurse sits by the window. Madame embraces her daughter and turns to the child, exclaiming, in French, as she sees him, “This is not the baby!”.
