Desiree's Baby
Desiree’s Baby
Kate Chopin, author of Desiree’s Baby, has written over 100 stories in her lifetime. She was raised only by her mother and that side of her family in in St. Louis, Missouri. Though she has written numerous stories Desiree’s Baby “the most frequently anthologized of all her short stories” (Cruz). The story is set in a place that is probably much like the small town where she lived out her married life in Loiusiana. The story has a small cast consisting of Desiree, her mom, Armand, and their child. The author uses literary elements such as situational irony, internal conflict, and mystery to illustrate her theme of the impermanence of one’s perception of their identity through their circumstances and relationships. Throughout the story Chopin constantly changes how it is that her characters perceive their identity to be. For Desiree, her identity is begun unknown to anyone. Through her “adoption” she is given one then through marriage yet another one. It was at the discovery of the baby’s race that her marital identity was taken from her and it was then that she finally gave herself an identity though it wasn’t a very positive one. Chopin also changed Armand’s identity. Throughout the story he always appears steady and strong of will and identity but it is at the very end that we discover he is the one who’s identity was least known to anyone.
Chopin’s use of situational irony holds the most dramatic impact on the storyline and its characters. “’It means,” he answered lightly, “that the child is not white; it means that you are not white.’” (Chopin 308). At this point Desiree has just recognized the African ancestry in her son. The irony only appears in the end when the reader discovers that it is not Desiree who brought this particular ancestry into the bloodline but rather Armand. “’…our dear Armand will never know that his mother…belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.’” (Chopin 310). Chopin uses situational irony in her
Kate Chopin, author of Desiree’s Baby, has written over 100 stories in her lifetime. She was raised only by her mother and that side of her family in in St. Louis, Missouri. Though she has written numerous stories Desiree’s Baby “the most frequently anthologized of all her short stories” (Cruz). The story is set in a place that is probably much like the small town where she lived out her married life in Loiusiana. The story has a small cast consisting of Desiree, her mom, Armand, and their child. The author uses literary elements such as situational irony, internal conflict, and mystery to illustrate her theme of the impermanence of one’s perception of their identity through their circumstances and relationships. Throughout the story Chopin constantly changes how it is that her characters perceive their identity to be. For Desiree, her identity is begun unknown to anyone. Through her “adoption” she is given one then through marriage yet another one. It was at the discovery of the baby’s race that her marital identity was taken from her and it was then that she finally gave herself an identity though it wasn’t a very positive one. Chopin also changed Armand’s identity. Throughout the story he always appears steady and strong of will and identity but it is at the very end that we discover he is the one who’s identity was least known to anyone.
Chopin’s use of situational irony holds the most dramatic impact on the storyline and its characters. “’It means,” he answered lightly, “that the child is not white; it means that you are not white.’” (Chopin 308). At this point Desiree has just recognized the African ancestry in her son. The irony only appears in the end when the reader discovers that it is not Desiree who brought this particular ancestry into the bloodline but rather Armand. “’…our dear Armand will never know that his mother…belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.’” (Chopin 310). Chopin uses situational irony in her
Cited: Chopin, Kate. “Desiree’s Baby.” Major Writers of Short Fiction. Charters, Ann,Ed. Boston, MA,St. Martin’s Press. 1993. 306-10. Print. Cruz, Barbara C., James A. Duplass. “Case Study: “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin in the History Classroom.” Making Sensse of ‘Race’ in the History Classroom. University of South Florida, Tampa. Web. “Desiree’s Baby.” Short Stories for Students Ed. Jennifer Smith. ed 13.Detroit, The Gale Group, 1997. 69- 74. Print. Korb, Rena. Critical Essay on ”Desiree’s Baby.” In Short Stories For Students Ed. Jennifer Smith. ed 13.Detroit, The Gale Group, 1997. 77-81. Print. Miner, Madonne M. “Desiree’s Baby.” Reference Guide to Short Fiction Ed. Thomas Riggs. ed 2.1892. Detroit, St. James Press,1999. 805-06. Print. Peel, Ellen. “Semiotic Subversion in ‘Desiree’s Baby.’” University of Cinannati. Web.