Desiree's Baby

A detailed Summary of Desiree's Baby

2) should Desiree have returned to her family home with her baby?

In the short story "Desiree's Baby," written by Kate Chopin, tragedy comes early in the marriage with the birth of Armand and Desiree's first child. Although no one seemed to notice at first, by the time the child was three months old, Armand noticed a change in the child. "When the baby was about three months old, Desiree awoke one day to the conviction that there was something in the air menacing her peace." (331). It turns out the baby is of mixed blood and because of this, he shuns his wife and the child he was so proud of only days before. "He absented himself from home and when here, avoided her presence and that of her child, without excuse."(331). Armand was "the proudest father in that parish...it is a boy to bear his name."(330). Additionally, he accuses Desiree of not being white (a crime against his family's "purity") which she abruptly denies. "It is a lie it is not true, I am white Look at my hair, it is brown and my eyes are gray, Armand," (331) Desiree then writes to her adopted mother and tells her about what is happening. Her mother then tells her to return home with the child where they will both be loved, but Desiree is so shocked and

If Desiree did decide to go and live with her mother she would feel the security of unconditional love and support from her mother on the fact that she gave life to an interracial child. Her mother stated in the story "My own Desiree: Come home to Valmonde; back to your mother who loves you. Come with your child." (331) That right there is proof that Desiree and her child are more than cared for they are loved. For if Desiree stayed with her husband in their L'Abri home the child would then grow up without the negativity of his father doubting him and his every move.

Desiree's future may have been better for her and her child in her moms home but there are always cons to every pro. Her child would grow up without is father and in doing so he might feel unwanted and neglected. Growing up without his father is denying him of understanding his own heritage and he will never know where his African American roots came from. But then again it was Armand who convinced Desiree that it was her with the African American decent. The child may also feel that his parent splitting up was his fault because he is "mulatto".

This is where I ponder the question, should Desiree have returned to her family

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Approximate Word count = 813
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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