Desiree's Baby By Kate Chopin Analysis
MarChelle Davis
Professor Chad Oliver
English 2383
5 May 17
An Analysis of “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin
Kate Chopin was an author well-known for her use of symbolism in the literary genre of American Realism during the nineteenth century. Her writings often utilized symbols to describe the world and societal views surrounding themes such as gender, class and race during her era. Kate’s short story, “Desiree’s Baby”, gives the reader a look at pre-Civil War culture in a way that is true to her writing style.
Born Catherine (Kate) O’Flaherty on February 8, 1850, the St. Louis, Missouri native was raised in a bilingual and bicultural home (Jones 2016). Kate’s maternal side was of French descent while her father’s family was of Irish origin. …show more content…
It was due to a social event that she met Oscar Chopin when she was about nineteen. Kate and Oscar married in 1870 and, after a wedding trip, eventually settled in New Orleans. During their time in New Orleans, Kate’s observation of life in the city, becoming a mother of six and other general material gathering would prove to be experiences she could draw upon for her fiction later in life (Jones 2016).
Shortly after Oscar’s death in 1882, Kate and her children were forced to return to St. Louis due to financial debts brought on by her husband’s failed business endeavors where they lived with her mother. After her mother’s death, Chopin was encouraged by a family friend to begin writing to cope with her loss and for the very necessary financial gain. Kate went on to write a variety of short stories, literary reviews and novels until her death in …show more content…
Armand Aubigny is representative of the typical American of the antebellum South and holds the same attitudes toward each theme as such. He bases the worth of a person primarily on his or her social status, race and gender. Wealth or status can correct just about any issue, women are subordinate to men, and persons with black in their family tree are less than human, he believes. As master of the L'Abri plantation and part of the ruling class, he is a wealthy and strict slave-owner who treats the slaves harshly. As a male, Armand clearly rules the home and any female presence therein. “When he frowned, [Désirée] trembled," the narrator observes. “When he smiled, she asked no greater blessing of God." Even Madame Valmonde defers to his authority when asking Desiree “What does Armand say?” about their child. As Désirée observes that her husband is not only proud but less harsh to the slaves since the birth of their son and that he would not have been as happy if it were a girl, Armand judges the worth of the child according to its gender (in addition to its race). However, when Armand discovers that the child has African lineage, he becomes sullen and cruel, making it known that his wife and child are no longer welcome. He knows that while gender and class are of importance, they cannot compensate for
Professor Chad Oliver
English 2383
5 May 17
An Analysis of “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin
Kate Chopin was an author well-known for her use of symbolism in the literary genre of American Realism during the nineteenth century. Her writings often utilized symbols to describe the world and societal views surrounding themes such as gender, class and race during her era. Kate’s short story, “Desiree’s Baby”, gives the reader a look at pre-Civil War culture in a way that is true to her writing style.
Born Catherine (Kate) O’Flaherty on February 8, 1850, the St. Louis, Missouri native was raised in a bilingual and bicultural home (Jones 2016). Kate’s maternal side was of French descent while her father’s family was of Irish origin. …show more content…
It was due to a social event that she met Oscar Chopin when she was about nineteen. Kate and Oscar married in 1870 and, after a wedding trip, eventually settled in New Orleans. During their time in New Orleans, Kate’s observation of life in the city, becoming a mother of six and other general material gathering would prove to be experiences she could draw upon for her fiction later in life (Jones 2016).
Shortly after Oscar’s death in 1882, Kate and her children were forced to return to St. Louis due to financial debts brought on by her husband’s failed business endeavors where they lived with her mother. After her mother’s death, Chopin was encouraged by a family friend to begin writing to cope with her loss and for the very necessary financial gain. Kate went on to write a variety of short stories, literary reviews and novels until her death in …show more content…
Armand Aubigny is representative of the typical American of the antebellum South and holds the same attitudes toward each theme as such. He bases the worth of a person primarily on his or her social status, race and gender. Wealth or status can correct just about any issue, women are subordinate to men, and persons with black in their family tree are less than human, he believes. As master of the L'Abri plantation and part of the ruling class, he is a wealthy and strict slave-owner who treats the slaves harshly. As a male, Armand clearly rules the home and any female presence therein. “When he frowned, [Désirée] trembled," the narrator observes. “When he smiled, she asked no greater blessing of God." Even Madame Valmonde defers to his authority when asking Desiree “What does Armand say?” about their child. As Désirée observes that her husband is not only proud but less harsh to the slaves since the birth of their son and that he would not have been as happy if it were a girl, Armand judges the worth of the child according to its gender (in addition to its race). However, when Armand discovers that the child has African lineage, he becomes sullen and cruel, making it known that his wife and child are no longer welcome. He knows that while gender and class are of importance, they cannot compensate for