Research Paper on "Kate Chopin's - "Desiree's Baby"

Research Paper 4 pages (1096 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Even with the fact that they are both women, La Blanche is discriminated to a larger degree in comparison to Desiree on account of being African-American. It is actually intriguing to observe how Armand does not feel the need to criticize La Blanche on account of her having children who are one-quarter black. Even with the fact that it is likely that one of this children belongs to him, he does not feel any form of attachment toward him and actually feels that there is nothing wrong with the woman or with the boy -- they are both associated with the African-American community and it would thus be pointless for him to have any kind of expectations from them. Armand is generally interested in being with someone with whom he can identify with. The fact that his child puts him at risk of being criticized by the rest of his community makes him want to abandon both his wife and his child, eventually putting across his disproval of a person of African-American ancestry being provided with the same privileges as a white individual. "The white man's is the only real position of power here, even as the apotheosis of white womanhood, Desiree, as her name implies, has only a tenuous power, one that is dependent on her being desired and, I would add, on an always instable myth of purity of blood." (McCullough 218)

Chopin's story can be associated with a genre, as there are a series of works discussing with regard to the tragic mulatta during the nineteenth century antebellum period. Even with the fact that the writer attempts to provide a somewhat different account (a move which adds uniqueness to the story), it is nonetheless intriguing to observe general feelings toward this particular genre in the nineteenth century -- this was a period in which African-Americans struggled to upgrade their social status. "The tragic mulatta, in brief, is a beautiful, light-skinned, well-mannered young woman whose "black blood" is uncovered resulting either in her return to the victimization of slavery or (in later versions) in her white lover's rejection of her." (Kalaidjian 246) Numerous tragedies occurred during this time as a consequence of the dominant white society persecuting anyone considered to have an African-American ancestry, regardless of the respective person's status or background.

Desiree was a victim of circumstances, but this does not prevent readers from observing the actual message of the story. Chopin's intention was to raise public awareness concerning how the masses pointlessly promoted a series of values without actually having a complex understanding of these concepts. Armand is the best example proving this point: he has an African-American ancestry, is unhesitant about having a relationship with La Blanche, and is yet outraged at the thought of fathering a child that has an appearance characteristic to someone who has African-American roots.

Works cited:

Chopin, K. "Desiree's Baby." Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/DesiBaby.shtml

Kalaidjian, W.B. "The Cambridge Companion to American Modernism" (Cambridge University Press, 28 Apr 2005)

McCullough, K. "Regions of Identity: The Constructions of America in Women's Fiction, 1885 -- 1914." (Stanford University Press)

Trotman, C.J. "Multiculturalism: Roots and Realities." (Indiana University Press, 2002) READ MORE

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