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Into The Bayou: Ashamed And Disgraced

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Into the Bayou: Ashamed and Disgraced In the short story “Desiree’s Baby” the author, and feminist Kate Chopin, views racism as prevalent, which she reveals through the setting and actions of the characters. Armand Aubigny, “the oldest and proudest man in Louisiana”, marries Desiree, a woman who was nameless, however, she is exceptionally beautiful and breathtaking. This is significant because it unfolds Armand’s persona as prideful, and selfish that he attains Desiree as a trophy regardless of her background. Although Armand is arrogant, he softens upon the arrival of his son; his treatment of the slaves becomes better. He is a proud father that knows his son would surely carry on the Aubigny’s legacy. Armand’s manner changes suddenly, he …show more content…

In the end, Armand realizes through a letter that his mother wrote to Armand’s father declaring that she “belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery”, which she was thankful that …show more content…

Kate Chopin aspires to change the perspective of others that believe that a certain race and gender are of higher superiority. The issue is much simpler to understand that genetic inheritance is a natural biological process that cannot be decided depending on the mother’s genes, but the father’s genes as well. Social Darwinism has persisted successfully for several generations, which has brainwashed many to believe that only the fittest can survive and the rest will suffer. This idea is very similar to white supremacy, which promotes a hierarchy, and that most people tend to believe. The concepts of Social Darwinism and white supremacy relates to the short story because it shows how Armand was a victim of societal norms, which principled racism. Armand let his pride and name corrupt him; he did not care to listen to his wife or have the knowledge that he is the son of a woman, who is of

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Armand’s father had brought him home from paris, when he was eight, after his mother died. He came from a wealthy family. According to the Armand’s father thought of Desiree didn’t seem like he was happy because the way he grew up, he wanted someone from the same wealth as them. After they had gotten married and they were expecting a baby, the day had come of the birth of the child Mrs. Valmonde was surprised about the baby when she saw it because perhaps the kid didn’t look like one of the parent’s. “ Marriage, and later the birth of his so had softened Armand Aubigny’s imperious and exacting nature greatly.”

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A common theme that has lived most distinctly in the South for decades, exists still today. Most of the culture, especially during the Antebellum Era, believed that no Caucasian should even be associated with individuals of color, for they were of substance, simply as property. The author of “Desiree’s Baby,” Kate Chopin, existed in this era, one in which racism and slavery were ever-prevalent, leading to her focus upon the issue of race throughout her works, particularly “Desiree’s Baby.” Her writing is solely based upon her experiences, which has influenced individuals for centuries. Chopin 's characterization of Armand, a character portraying one of high power in society, serves to illustrate the thoughts and ideals of individuals, particularly in the South, during the 19th century; furthermore, her

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This is shown when Armand’s mother writes, ‘“night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery,”’(Chopin. Par 6). This shows how Armand was racially mixed himself. Armand's mother's words show the degree to which the American racial tension has conquered even the black mind. She considers her race “cursed with the brand of slavery” (Chopin.

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1081 Words | 5 Pages

Deigning Acceptance of Race "Desiree's Baby," by Kate Chopin, is a short story about the effects of denial of acceptance throughout the story. Some people think of everyone as equal, but in this story Armand does not chose to believe in equality. The story shows Armand’s racism from the way he treats his slaves, towards his wife, and child. Armand believes that his possessions are more important than his actual family. When Armand’s baby starts showing negroid features, more of his racism comes out.

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With the denial of his past and of his race, comes hatred and racism into Armand’s heart and actions. This goes hand and hand with the denial aspect with the usage of characterization from Chopin’s part. Racism ran high in most people’s characteristics of this time because Chopin put this story’s in pre-Civil War times. With the treatment of his slaves, you can really see how Armand feels about others from the race that he sees as less than, even though he is really one of them. The substandard treatment of Armand’s slaves only stops once Desiree gives birth to the baby, but when there was a chance of Desiree being of an African descent, Armand sent her and their child away without thought, saying “Yes, I want to go” with no emotion showing in his voice or actions (3).

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They end up having a kid but the boy turns out to be not white. Armand angry and upset kicks out both Desiree and her baby because of her mixed race. That night, Armand burns all of Desiree’s possessions. While doing this, he finds a letter that his mother wrote to his

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During the era in which this short story was written, southern authors had a major influence on the way the culture was going to grow with racism, and also the way people loved each other. Kate Chopin, a traditional author who believed in southern ways, exemplifies how race and the characteristics of conditional love played a role in her story. In “Desiree’s Baby,” the author, Kate Chopin, provides an illustration of conditional love exemplified by the character, Armand, towards his wife and child; furthermore, Chopin provides instances of irony, elements of surprise, foreshadowing, and symbolism to prove that Armand’s love for both of them was not the unconditional love typically felt and portrayed by women, such as Desiree, during this era. Throughout the story, the readers notice different times where Chopin uses elements of surprise. One major surprise is when Armand opens the letter from his mother and finds out that he has African American in his bloodline.

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The irony of this short story was that it was Armand who was of mixed raced and not his wife. He was the one who tainted the baby, he found out after fining a letter from his beloved mother that was written to his father (Chopin). Irony is a surprising interesting twist at the end on a story. I am sure that after he read this letter that he soon figured out why his father was so kind to the slaves and how it was wrong of him to treat his wife the way he did and immediately regretted his choices. Thus, she was no longer there and he could not get her back, he thought she went back to live with her stepmother, and if he goes to look for her or the stepmother went to look for her and the child they would both find that Desiree never went to her original destination.

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If it weren’t for Armand’s racism, this story would have turned out with a much more positive ending. Because of Armand racist world views, he was unable to be a decent human and take responsibility for the child he conceived with Désirée. His racism causes him to act unkindly towards his wife, child, slaves, and I think to himself now that he knows he himself is part

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An analysis of Kate Chopin’s “Desiree’s Baby” shows the ways in which gender inequality, class and race play a large theme in mid-nineteenth century Southern culture. The gender inequality Chopin insinuates in her story is one that women still battle today. By buying Desiree corbeille gifts and fine clothes, she is treated as a possession by Armand. He seems to believe that by gifting these items to her, he can buy her – and her love.

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1293 Words | 6 Pages

Had Armand’s mother stepped into his life and made it known that she is of the decent of people cursed with slavery, Armand may have never even ended up with Desiree knowing his place and role in society would have set upon his mental. While I do not hold Armand as a villain and someone who’s spirit is converted unto a spirit of that which represents Satan himself, I believe is ultimately on the losing side of this story as he learned of his identity after the fact he drove away his family. Leaving him alone with his thoughts and slaves. now infringing upon his authenticity to own slaves regarding his

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1463 Words | 6 Pages

In the end Armand tells Desiree to leave with her baby. Once she does, Armand finds out that his mother was really a slave, when he found a letter that was for his father and so he was the one who caused his child to be mixed. In “Desiree’s Baby”, Kate Chopin uses themes, characters, and symbols to develop the short story. The first literary device is theme which is the message about life or human nature that is “the focus” in the story that the writer tells (Glossary...3).

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883 Words | 4 Pages

However, the birth of his son appears to have moved him and this strictness seems to vanish instantly. During Madame Valmondé’s visit to L’Abri, Désirée explains how Armand has yet to punish a slave since the birth of their son. Along with Désirée’s testimony to Armand’s newly discovered compassion, Chopin writes that “Marriage, and later the birth of his son had softened Armand Aubigny’s imperious and exacting nature greatly” (2). The temporary joy upon the plantation soon falls to Armand’s pride and he violently returns to his imposing nature as his son’s age approaches three months; during this time his child’s skin tone darkens and it becomes apparent that the child contains mixed origins. He immediately begins to suspect Désirée, as his unwavering certainty in his heritage boosts the white pride and privilege cradled within his soul.

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As a reader, you will notice the impact racism has in the everyday life .Many decisions were impacted do to thought of blacks being inferior to whites. When reading Kate Chopin’s “ Desiree’s Baby” the reader will be introduced racism and the use of local color all throughout the story. In Kate Chopin’s “

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As a college undergraduate, I had dreamed of joining the faculty of a distinguished university and making a lasting scholarly mark in political philosophy. As the twentieth century drew to a close, both dreams had come true. I had served on Princeton's faculty for nearly three decades, and mentored two generations of great young scholars who now hold teaching appointments at illustrious universities around the world.

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