Desiree's Baby: Short Story by Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin's short story, Desiree's Baby, (Kate Chopin, pg 359-363) tells about the life of Desiree from both a historical and cultural perspective, as well as showing the personal impact her situation had on her. It is necessary to understand the political and social atmosphere in which this story takes place in order to have any understanding of why the main characters react as they do when the story unfolds.

Desiree had been deserted as a toddler and had been "adopted" by Madam Valmonde. Eighteen years later she is seen by Armand Aubigny and he falls in with her. They marry despite Desiree's unknown origin and have a son. As the baby grows it becomes apparent that he is of African-American descent. This causes Armand to reject Desiree and the baby.

Despair causes Desiree to leave with the baby. " 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" (Kate Chopin, pg 362). Later Armand discovers a letter from his mother to his father acknowledging that the baby's heritage had been passed down from her and therefore Armand.

Kate Chopin wrote this story shortly after the Civil War. African-Americans were barely considered to be human. Women stayed at home raising children. There was a hierarchy in society with white men on the top rung and women, then African-American men, then at the bottom African-American women.

It is interesting that Armand chose Desiree to marry. The fact that Desiree doesn't know anything about her background serves to protect Armand's genetic past. It is also interesting that the "blame" for the baby's obvious genetics is automatically assigned to Desiree. This is a multi-faceted fact. It had to do with women's roles at the time, but also the social standing of Armand and Desiree as a couple. Due to the cultural atmosphere of the time a woman's word, especially under the circumstances, would never even be considered against the word and standing of her husband. This is despite that Desiree pointed out to her husband, "Look at my hand; whiter than yours, Armand" (Kate Chopin, pg 362).