Desiree’s Baby

Why does race matter in a relationship? Great figures in history have noted that race should never play a role in any relationship. Allowing race to impact a relationship could easily cause it to fall apart, leading to both sides being hurt in the end. In Kate Chopin’s short story “Desiree’s Baby”, the race of Desiree and Armand’s child cause Armand to turn a cold shoulder to his wife and his child, eventually driving Desire to suicide. By analyzing the racism in the story, it becomes clear that heritage, setting, and social norms play a major role in the motives of the story.

Armand’s family was old and wealthy and was very important to the Louisiana plantation. He was light skin and handsome. His mother died when he was eight years old, so he does not remember the skin tone of his mother. He just assumed she was Caucasian. Armand states his name was “One of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana” (Chopin, 650) Therefore, Armand was born into wealth. On the other hand, Desiree was abandoned and was taken in by the Valmonde’s family. The Valmonde’s had not been blessed with any children, so they took in Desiree and raised her as their own child. The Valmonde's taking in this child as their own, is two blessing in one. Desiree gets the love and support that she needs from parents, and the Valmonde's get a child that they are now able to give love and support to. Growing up to become a beautiful woman, she attracted the attention of Armand Aubigny. Armand was a neighboring plantation owner and bearer of one of the finest names in Louisiana. His Heritage will play a major role in this story

Desiree and Armand met as children growing up on the plantation. But at that time, Armand did not love her. “The wonder was that he had not loved her before; for he had known her since his father brought him home from Paris, a boy of eight, after his mother died there.” (651). Falling in love with Desiree felt to Armand as if he “Had been struck by a pistol shot”(650). Desiree’s father told Armand that he had not known the heritage of Desiree, but Armand did not care. He pursued her anyway. This relationship lead to marriage. Armand gave Desiree the name he said he would. Armand didn’t want Desiree to mistreat the name that was given to her since the name she had received was very important due to Armand family background. Over period of time Armand and Desiree had a baby. Now, the problem begins. It wasn't until there was a question about the baby's race; the hardship on the plantation began. The baby’s identity resembled that of an African American, which was socially unacceptable. When this happened, Armand lost all of the love he had for her, because he thought she was from African decent. So Desiree had to leave the plantation, but she could not divorce him because of the strict laws back then. The Law would give Armand everything, including all of their material possessions and the baby. If she would to Divorce him, her life would be ruined. Desiree’s parents told her to just come home because they did not care and they still loved her. On her way out of the plantation, she was in so much sorrow that she made the decision to end her life. “She did not take the Broad, beaten road which led to the far-off plantation of Valmonde. She walked across a deserted field, where the stubble bruised her tender feet, so delicately shod, and tore her thin gown to shreds. She disappeared among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the banks of the deep, sluggish bayou: and she did not come back again.” (653). Just only a few weeks later does Armand read a letter from his Mother to his Father that reads, “… his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery”(653). That one letter changes the story completely. It shows just how ignorant Armand was. His ignorance was caused his wife to believe she was of African decent and kill herself and her baby.

This story is about a man who falls in love with a girl with a mysterious background, marries her, and then has a baby. The baby then turns out to be half Caucasia half African American. At that point, racism starts to play a major role in the story. Armand, with a long and rich heritage immediately blames Desiree for the odd race mixture of the baby, which causes her to doubt herself and all of her beliefs. This causes her to kill herself. The ignorance and racism in this story play a major role in the plot of this story