Family Heritage In Desiree's Baby

In the passage given from “Desiree’s Baby,” the theme of family heritage is suggested to the audience. Armand Aubigny falls in love with a “nameless girl”, Desiree, insinuating that she does not come from an elite family like Armand’s, but he does not care about this and claims to be able to give her one of the best names in Louisiana when they marry. This shows that one’s family background is important to be considered in society, but not so personally to Armand. However, we later discover that Armand despises his baby and wife for not being completely white: “” It means," he answered lightly, "that the child is not white; it means that you are not white”” (Chopin, “Desiree’s Baby”). Armand’s original claim of not caring about Desiree’s origin
is now null and void, as well as his original feelings towards her. It is rather ironic to see that Armand, who “had fallen in love with her… as if struck by a pistol shot” (Chopin, “Desiree’s Baby”), lose such intense feelings so quickly and absolutely, but could have easily been avoided if he had considered Desiree’s origins, or perhaps his own. Instead, Armand chose to marry Desiree quickly, and rather rashly, due to his strong emotions. It could be said that these emotions, which caused Armand to marry Desiree that, consequently, prompted Desiree’s death, were the reason for the short story’s misfortune, and give the audience a lesson about how strong emotions and rash decisions cause pain.

Works Cited
Chopin, Kate. “Desiree’s Baby”. Pbs.org. 1894.