Desiree's Baby Imagery

A detailed Summary of Desiree's Baby Imagery

In "Desiree's Baby" Kate Chopin uses imagery throughout the story when describing human emotion and the setting where the story takes place. From the beginning Chopin starts with the shadow of the big stone pillar that Desiree was found sleeping in. Many times in the body of the story, you can almost feel the emotions of Desiree as Chopin describes her happiness and sadness. In the end, Armand finds out the truth that his blood is from "the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery" (181).

From the beginning of the story, you get a clear picture of what type of person Desiree was. As a child she was "beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere - the idol of Valmonde" (178). It is not a wonder that Armand fell in love with her "as if struck by a pistol shot" (178) after he rode by on his horse. You can almost see him as a knight in shining armor coming to take away the woman he loves. He was so passionate about this beautiful, affectionate young woman, and this passion "swept along like an avalanche, or like a prairie fire" (178). In reading these words, one can almost see the fire burning in Armand's heart for Desiree.

Continuing with this imagery, Chopin uses Madame Valmonde to d

escribe L'Abri, the home where Armand and Desiree live. As she reaches the house, she "shuddered at the first sight of it, as she always did" (178). This starts the reader off with an image of a cold and unhappy place that "had not known the gentle presence of a mistress" (178) since Armand's mother had died. Chopin reinforces this image with a description of the roof that "came down steep and black like a cowl" (178). As a reader, you begin to wonder how a woman like Desiree could live in such a place. Is it only love that holds her in this miserable place, or is it part of a sense of duty this woman has to this man, who made her his wife?

This story brings a reader through the roller coaster of love in a short time. Chopin uses imagery well, and the reader is able to feel what Desiree is feeling at different points in the story. In the end, Chopin brings the reader back up in emotion, to a happier situation. Yes Desiree is gone, but Armand must deal with the devastating consequences of his actions, and live unhappily ever after.

In describing Desiree's emotions, the reader is almost able to feel how happy, and then sad, she is during the story. When Madame Valmonde asks Desiree how Armand feels about the baby, Desiree's face "became suffused with a glow that w

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Approximate Word count = 862
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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