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Desiree's Baby Short Story

797 Words4 Pages

Incidents of foreshadowing are immediate and frequent in the story “Desiree’s Baby” (1894). Desiree, and her baby’s race will be questioned. Evidence of Armand’s hatred towards anyone of color, and his vengeful actions. Subtle hints of Armand’s race are all foretold in the storyline. Ultimately, Suggestions of death and despair. Desiree had been abandoned by the gate of the Valmonde estate when she was just a toddler (Chopin, 1894). Many people questioned where the girl came from, but “Madame Valmonde abandoned every speculation but the one that Desiree had been sent to her” (Chopin, 1894, p. 1605). Madame Valmonde raised Desiree as her own child and dismissed all accusations of her background. This event immediately foreshadows that Desiree’s background and race, will be questioned again. Speculation of Desiree’s race enters the story again as, “Desiree awoke one day to the conviction that there was something in the air menacing her peace… It had only been a quieting suggestion; an air of mystery among the blacks… then an …show more content…

1608). This prompted Desiree to write a despairing letter to her mother “Armand has told me I am not white… You must know it’s not true. I shall die. I must die. I cannot be so unhappy, and live” (Chopin, 1894, p. 1608). Her mother’s response does not confirm nor deny these claims, and only asks Desiree to come home with the baby, for even her mother is unsure of Desiree’s true race (Chopin, 1894). Upon bringing the letter to Armand, he tells her to leave, breaking her heart. This letter foreshadows the event of Desiree’s suicide, killing not only herself, but her baby too (Chopin, 1894). Armand, having tossed her away like a worthless piece of property, has brought Desiree to the point of hopelessness. Her actions brought upon the fact that she cannot live without Armand’s love, nor can she bear the shame from the accusations of her

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