“Désirée’s Baby” by Kate Chopin: Analysis

Introduction: “Désirée’s Baby” by Kate Chopin

“Désirée’s Baby” by Kate Chopin, a short story appeared in Vogue magazine in 1893 centers on Désirée, a young woman who marries into a prominent Louisiana family. However, a secret concerning race and identity disrupts their seemingly idyllic life. Though initially controversial for its subject matter, Chopin’s masterful storytelling and exploration of complex themes, particularly racial prejudice and personal identity, have ensured the story’s enduring popularity. “Désirée’s Baby” cemented Chopin’s reputation as a pioneering feminist voice, and her work continues to resonate with readers and scholars alike.

Main Events in “Désirée’s Baby” by Kate Chopin

1. A wealthy landowner, Armand Aubigny, falls in love with a young girl named Desiree and marries her.
2. Desiree gives birth to a baby boy, but soon Armand begins to notice that the child’s skin is dark, and he accuses Desiree of being of mixed race.
3. Desiree insists that she is white and suggests that the child may have inherited his skin color from her husband’s family.
4. Armand becomes increasingly angry and demands that Desiree and the baby leave his home.
5. Desiree takes the baby and disappears.
6. Armand burns all of Desiree’s belongings and discovers a letter from his mother to his father, revealing that Armand’s mother was of mixed race.
7. Armand realizes that he is the one with African ancestry and that he has treated his wife and child unjustly.
8. Armand tries to find Desiree and the baby but does not succeed.
9. Time passes, and people notice that Armand’s behavior has changed, and he becomes reclusive and sad.
10. The story ends with the reveal that the baby’s true biological father was a man of mixed race who was well-respected by the community.

Literary Devices in “Désirée’s Baby” by Kate Chopin

1. Allusion: A reference to another literary work, historical event, or cultural phenomenon. Example: “She turned and regarded him with eyes that were clear and steady but not proud.” (Alludes to the Bible verse Proverbs 31:30: “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”)
2. Characterization: The use of description and dialogue to create a character. Example: The character of Armand is revealed through his treatment of Desiree and his family history.
3. Conflict: The struggle between two opposing forces. Example: The conflict between Desiree and Armand over their child’s race.
4. Foreshadowing: A hint or clue about events that will happen later in the story. Example: The fact that Armand’s mother’s portrait is hidden away foreshadows the reveal about his family history.
5. Hyperbole: Exaggerated language used for emphasis or effect. Example: “Oh, Armand is the proudest father in the parish, I believe, chiefly because it is a boy, to bear his name.”
6. Imagery: The use of vivid descriptions to create sensory experiences for the reader. Example: “The sun was shining brightly upon the clearing, and there was a great fluttering of the cottonwood leaves.”
7. Irony: The use of language to convey a meaning opposite to its literal meaning. Example: The fact that Armand accuses Desiree of being of mixed race when it is he who has African ancestry is an example of dramatic irony.
8. Metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things. Example: “The passion that awoke in him that day, when he saw her at the gate, swept along like an avalanche, or like a prairie fire, or like anything that drives headlong over all obstacles.”
9. Motif: A recurring image or idea. Example: The motif of whiteness, which symbolizes purity and innocence, is present throughout the story.
10. Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things. Example: “The very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his dealings with the slaves.”
11. Point of View: The perspective from which the story is told. Example: “Desiree’s Baby” is told from a third-person limited point of view, focusing on Desiree’s experiences and thoughts.
12. Setting: The time and place in which the story takes place. Example: “Desiree’s Baby” is set in Louisiana in the late 19th century.
13. Simile: A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as”. Example: “The smile that she gave him was at once childlike and like the old woman.”
14. Symbolism: The use of an object or image to represent something else. Example: The baby’s skin color is a symbol of racial identity and prejudice.
15. Tone: The attitude of the author toward the subject matter or characters. Example: The tone of “Desiree’s Baby” is serious and somber, reflecting the gravity of the themes explored in the story.

Characterization in “Désirée’s Baby” by Kate Chopin

Major characters:

1. Désirée: The protagonist of the story, Désirée is a young, beautiful, and innocent girl who is abandoned as a baby and taken in by Monsieur and Madame Valmondé. She later marries Armand Aubigny and has a child with him.
2. Armand Aubigny: A wealthy plantation owner and the husband of Désirée. He is initially portrayed as a loving and devoted husband and father but later becomes cruel and abusive.
3. Madame Valmondé: The woman who finds and takes in Désirée as a baby. She later visits her daughter and grandson at the Aubigny plantation and is shocked by the events that unfold.

Minor characters:

1. La Blanche: A slave on the Aubigny plantation who becomes Armand’s mistress and the mother of his child.
2. Zandrine: A slave who works for Désirée and helps her take care of her baby.
3. Monsieur Valmondé: The husband of Madame Valmondé and Désirée’s biological father. He is only briefly mentioned in the story.

Major Themes in “Désirée’s Baby” by Kate Chopin

1. Racial Prejudice and Hypocrisy: “Désirée’s Baby” unflinchingly explores the pervasiveness of racial prejudice in the antebellum South. The discovery of Désirée’s ancestry, likely mixed race based on the “one-drop rule,” exposes the arbitrary cruelty of this system. Armand’s horrified reaction (“It is a cursed race…”) reveals the deep-seated racism that underpins seemingly idyllic Southern society. This hypocrisy is further emphasized by the existence of characters like Madame Aubigny, a free woman of color, who occupies an ambiguous social position.
2. Deception and Identity Crisis: The story revolves around a central deception: Désirée’s complete ignorance of her racial background. This revelation shatters her sense of self and belonging. Her desperate cry, “Tell me! What does it mean?” underscores the profound identity crisis she faces.
3. Love’s Conditional Nature: Armand’s initial passionate love for Désirée proves fragile in the face of her heritage. His complete rejection exposes the limitations of love conditioned by societal prejudices. This reinforces the story’s critique of a society where love is contingent upon racial purity.
4. Female Powerlessness in a Patriarchal Society: Désirée, lacking control over her past or her future, embodies the powerlessness of women in the patriarchal South. Confined by societal expectations, she is abandoned and ostracized. This is evident when she is forced to leave with only “the clothes she wore and the little bundle clasped in her desperate arms.”

Writing Style in “Désirée’s Baby” by Kate Chopin

1. Evocative Imagery: Chopin paints vivid pictures of the Louisiana setting, from the “colonnaded” mansion to “the bayou” with its lush vegetation, enhancing atmosphere and symbolism.
2. Ominous Foreshadowing: The description of “the yellow nurse woman” and the baby’s “darkening” skin subtly hint at the impending tragedy concerning race and heritage.
3. Dramatic Irony: Armand’s pride in L’Abri, unaware of its potentially ironic name (meaning “shelter”), foreshadows the disruption his prejudice will cause.
4. Objective Yet Emotionally Charged Narration: Chopin remains non-judgmental, yet skillfully evokes feelings of pity for Désirée (“Poor child!”) and contempt for Armand’s cruelty (“…blood that beat strong…as if all the rest of the world was but an atom…”)

Literary Theories and Interpretation of “Désirée’s Baby” by Kate Chopin

Literary Theory	Interpretation	References from the Story
Feminist Criticism	The story exposes the limitations and oppression faced by women in a patriarchal society. Désirée lacks control over her past and future, ultimately ostracized for something beyond her control.	* Désirée’s dependence on men for her identity: “Madame Aubigny had adopted her, reared her, and educated her…” * Limited options upon societal rejection: “…walking away like a somnambulist…”
Racial and Postcolonial Criticism	The story critiques the hypocrisy and cruelty of racial prejudice in the antebellum South. Désirée’s ostracization based on the “one-drop rule” exposes the arbitrary nature of racial hierarchies.	* Armand’s racist outburst: “It is a cursed race…” * The ambiguous social position of Madame Aubigny, a free woman of color.
Reader-Response Criticism	The story’s open ending invites readers to interpret Désirée’s fate and the story’s message. Readers may feel sympathy for Désirée, anger towards Armand, or contemplate the broader societal issues.	* The lack of details about Désirée’s ultimate fate. * The subjective emotional impact on the reader: pity for Désirée, outrage at Armand’s actions.
New Historicism	The story reflects the social and racial realities of the American South during the time period. The characters’ actions and anxieties are shaped by the societal norms and prejudices of the era.	* References to the plantation setting and societal expectations. * The concept of “white purity” and its importance in the social order.
Southern Gothic	The story incorporates elements of the Southern Gothic genre, with its themes of racial tension, societal decay, and the grotesque. The revelation of Désirée’s ancestry disrupts the seemingly idyllic world and exposes a dark undercurrent.	* The crumbling facade of a happy marriage upon the discovery of Désirée’s heritage. * The potential symbolic significance of the bayou, a dark and mysterious natural element.

Questions and Thesis Statements about “Désirée’s Baby” by Kate Chopin

• How does Kate Chopin use irony to convey the theme of race and identity in “Désirée’s Baby”?
• Thesis statement: Through the use of verbal irony in the dialogue between Armand and Désirée and situational irony in the revelation of the baby’s true parentage, Chopin highlights the absurdity of race-based societal norms and the fragility of constructed identity.
• In what ways does Chopin use symbolism to comment on the themes of gender roles and social class in “Désirée’s Baby”?
• Thesis statement: Chopin employs symbols such as the stone pillar, the cotton fields, and the baby’s clothing to represent the rigid gender roles and social hierarchies of the antebellum South, ultimately questioning their validity and impact on individual lives.
• How does the use of foreshadowing contribute to the tragic ending of “Désirée’s Baby”? Thesis statement: Through the use of foreshadowing, such as the ominous mist and Désirée’s cryptic statements about her past, Chopin builds a sense of impending doom that ultimately leads to the tragic and devastating conclusion of the story.
• How does Chopin use the setting of Louisiana and its history of slavery to explore the theme of racial identity in “Désirée’s Baby”?
• Thesis statement: The use of Louisiana as a setting, with its complex history of slavery and racial tension, allows Chopin to explore the theme of racial identity and the impact of societal norms and expectations on individuals, particularly those of mixed race.
• In what ways does Chopin use the technique of stream of consciousness to convey the psychological turmoil experienced by Désirée in “Désirée’s Baby”?
• Thesis statement: By utilizing the stream of consciousness technique, Chopin allows the reader to delve into Désirée’s inner thoughts and emotions, providing a deeper understanding of her internal struggle as she grapples with the rejection of her husband and the revelation of her unknown past.

Short Question-Answer about “Désirée’s Baby” by Kate Chopin

• How does Kate Chopin explore the theme of race in “Desiree’s Baby”?
• Kate Chopin explores the theme of race in “Desiree’s Baby” by showing the harsh realities of racial prejudice and discrimination in the 19th century American South. The story is set in a society where race is everything and the color of one’s skin determines their status and worth. Chopin highlights this by showing how Desiree’s unknown origins lead to her being ostracized and ultimately cast aside by her husband, who discovers that their child is of mixed race. This is also exemplified through the character of Armand, who embodies the societal expectations and prejudices of his time and cannot accept the idea of a mixed-race child in his family. Through the story, Chopin underscores the destructive consequences of racial prejudice and discrimination, and the need for empathy, acceptance, and equality.
• How does Kate Chopin use symbolism in “Desiree’s Baby”?
• Kate Chopin uses symbolism in “Desiree’s Baby” to convey deeper meanings and emotions in the story. One of the most prominent symbols is the stone pillar, which represents the solidity and permanence of the racial prejudice and discrimination in the society. It is also symbolic of Armand’s pride and power, which crumbles when he discovers his child’s mixed-race heritage. The color white is also symbolic, representing purity and innocence, but also the illusion of purity that is often used to justify racial discrimination. The image of the bayou is also symbolic of the unknown and mysterious, reflecting the uncertain origins of Desiree and her child. Chopin’s use of symbolism enriches the story and adds layers of meaning that go beyond the surface narrative.
• How does Kate Chopin use irony in “Desiree’s Baby”?
• Kate Chopin uses irony in “Desiree’s Baby” to highlight the hypocrisy and injustice of the society in which the story is set. For example, Armand, who is considered a model of masculinity and white supremacy, is himself of mixed race, which he discovers only after he has cast aside his wife and child for the same reason. This irony underscores the arbitrary and illogical nature of racial discrimination, and exposes the hypocrisy of those who claim to uphold racial purity and superiority. Another example of irony is the fact that Desiree, who is assumed to be of mixed race, is in fact white, while Armand, who is assumed to be white, is of mixed race. This irony subverts the expectations and assumptions of the society, and highlights the absurdity and injustice of the racial hierarchy.
• How does Kate Chopin use foreshadowing in “Desiree’s Baby”?
• Kate Chopin uses foreshadowing in “Desiree’s Baby” to hint at the tragic and shocking twist that comes at the end of the story. For example, the unknown origins of Desiree and her child, as well as the reference to her adoptive parents’ “cruelty,” foreshadow the revelation that the child is of mixed race and that Armand will react harshly to this discovery. The image of the baby clutching the letter “D” foreshadows the revelation of Desiree’s unknown origins and the fact that she will ultimately leave the plantation. The use of foreshadowing creates a sense of tension and unease throughout the story, and prepares the reader for the devastating revelation that will shatter the lives of the characters.

Literary Works Similar to “Désirée’s Baby” by Kate Chopin

1. The Awakening (1892) by Kate Chopin: Chopin’s novel delves further into themes explored in “Désirée’s Baby.” Edna Pontellier, the protagonist, mirrors Désirée’s struggle for identity and personal fulfillment within a restrictive societal framework. Both works offer insightful critiques of gender roles and societal expectations for women in the late 19th century.
2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) by Maya Angelou: This autobiographical novel by Maya Angelou shares thematic parallels with “Désirée’s Baby.” Both protagonists grapple with issues of racial identity and societal marginalization. Angelou’s work, however, provides a firsthand perspective on growing up Black in the racist South, offering a deeper historical context to the racial prejudice explored in Chopin’s story.
3. Passing (1926) by Nella Larsen: Larsen’s novel explores racial identity and the concept of “passing” – the ability of a light-skinned Black person to integrate into white society. Similar to Désirée’s situation, Clare Kendry, the protagonist, navigates a world where racial categorization is fluid and prejudice is deeply ingrained. Both works highlight the complexities of racial identity and societal pressures.
4. Kindred (1979) by Octavia Butler: While a science fiction novel, Octavia Butler’s “Kindred” thematically resonates with “Désirée’s Baby.” Through the lens of time travel, Butler explores race and slavery. Dana Franklin, the protagonist, encounters the brutality of the antebellum South firsthand, highlighting the ongoing effects of historical injustices. Both novels utilize contrasting genres to explore the lasting impact of racial prejudice.
5. Wide Sargasso Sea (1966) by Jean Rhys: This prequel to “Jane Eyre” offers a distinct yet thematically linked narrative. Jean Rhys tells the story of Bertha Antoinette Mason, Mr. Rochester’s first wife, a woman of mixed race ostracized and ultimately confined by a racist society. Both “Désirée’s Baby” and “Wide Sargasso Sea” explore the plight of women of color within oppressive patriarchal structures.

Suggested Readings: “Désirée’s Baby” by Kate Chopin

Books

• Benstock, Shari. Women’s Self-Recovery in American Literature. University of North Carolina Press, 1986. This book analyzes Chopin’s work within the context of feminist literary criticism, offering valuable insights into “Désirée’s Baby” through this lens.
• Lenz, Lois W. Black Feminist Literary Criticism: Theory, Method, Practice. Greenwood Press, 1989. This text provides a critical framework for examining issues of race and gender in Chopin’s writing, enriching your interpretation of “Désirée’s Baby.”
• Skalicky, Julie Chadron. Kate Chopin and the Politics of Desire. Louisiana State University Press, 2008. This comprehensive study offers in-depth analysis of Chopin’s work, including a detailed examination of “Désirée’s Baby.”

Articles

• “Textual, Contextual and Critical Surprises in ‘Désirée’s Baby.'” Connotations: A Journal for Critical Debate 14. 1-3 (2004-2005): 38-67. This article explores the concept of “passing” and its connection to racial identity in the story, providing a fresh perspective.
• Gilbert, Sandra M. “Desirée’s Baby and the Significance of the Ending.” American Literature 52.3 (1980): 498-516. This article delves into the open ending of the story, analyzing its interpretive possibilities and inviting further consideration.

Website

• The Kate Chopin Society. https://www.katechopin.org/society/ This website, dedicated to Chopin’s life and work, offers scholarly resources on “Désirée’s Baby,” including critical essays by established researchers.