Interpretation of Desiree"S Baby by: Kate Chopin

Desiree’s Baby By: Kate Chopin
Interpretation Essay

In the story “Desiree’s baby”, the author writes about a great tragedy which is told using the slave settings of the 1800’s when being black was seen as a curse and the brand of slavery reigned the African American race. In the beginning of the story, Desiree is found abandoned, by Madame Valmonde and is adopted by her and her husband. As years passed, Desiree becomes a beautiful and gentle woman whom catches the attention of a wealthy, known, and educated man named Armand. Desiree and Armand fall in love and marry. They live in joyous matrimony until the birth of their child which turns out to be of African American decent. Outraged by this, Armand assumes that Desiree is not white and he disowns his wife and child. At the end of the story Armand discovers that it is not Desiree who is black, but he himself who carries African blood in his veins. But it is too late, for Desiree “Disappeared among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the banks of the deep, sluggish bayou; and she did not come back again.” The title of the story itself gives immense meaning to the story. “Desiree’s Baby” outlines what the story is truly about. Once Armand saw that the baby was of African American decent, he automatically stopped thinking of the baby as his. By labeling this story as just “Desiree’s Baby” it already gives the reader a sense from the beginning of the story that Armand no longer thought of the child as theirs but only as hers and he wanted no part of his life shared with Desiree, nor her baby. This story is principally based around the subjects of racism and human emotion. It highlights how truly ignornat and cruel human beings can be, even to their loved ones. Armand was madly in love with Desiree, and this all changed within weeks. “When he spoke to her, it was with averted eyes, from which the old love-light seemed to have gone out. He absented himself from home…avoided her presence and that of her child, without excuse.” As the story continues, it is obvious to see that Armand has turned against Desiree because she and her child have contaminated his family by being “not white.” He also drives them away as if the memories of their presence would fade with their absence. In the story, the author brings up the important matter of perception. The lesson that the author tries to convey in this story is that it is important not to jump to conclusions, without knowing the whole truth, and that it is important to look at a situation from different viewpoints. Armand was so blinded and enraged by what he saw in the child that he neglected to look for another explanation other than Desiree’s being “not white.” I believe that the author was accurate when describing the human emotions portrayed in the story, as well as giving examples of one of the many flaws of men.

Ileanet Vidal
Proffesor Carrington