This document provides a summary and analysis of the short story "Désirée's Baby" by Kate Chopin. It summarizes the plot, which involves Désirée being adopted as a baby and growing up to marry a plantation owner named Armand. They have a baby but when the child is revealed to have African features, Armand accuses Désirée of having black ancestry. They separate after he discovers a letter revealing his own mother was of mixed race. The document analyzes the themes of racism and gender roles during slavery times and how appearances and society's expectations influenced the story.

1. Désirée’s baby
A report by Alicia, Cintia & Jake

2. Title:
Désirée’s baby
Author:
Kate Chopin
● Decisive writing style
Published in:
Vogue ,1893
About

3. Summary
● Désirée found next to a pillar in front of house
○ Monsieur Valmondé adopts her
● 18 years later: Armand Aubigny fell in love with her after many years
○ they get married
● Armand owns a plantation full of slaves
○ inherited from father
● Désirée and Armand have a baby together (boy)
○ Armand is so happy → gentler to slaves
● Madame Valmondé visits (flashback baby Désirée)
● When the baby is 3 months old Armand has a “dark spirit” over him
○ doesn’t seem to love Désirée anymore

4. Summary
● Colored boy fans her baby (similarity between her baby and the black kid)
● Désirée’s baby is black and not white
○ Armand blames her (black ancestors)
● Désirée → letter to mother
○ mother neither confirms nor denies → tells her to come back home
● Désirée shows letter to Armand
Answer: “Yes,” he says, “I want you to go.”
○ she leaves Armand
● the black people tend a bonfire, Armand burns:
○ baby's cradle, clothes, Désirée's gowns, and her embroideries, gloves, and bonnets
○ Armand finds letter from his mother had written for his father
● It says, in part, “I thank God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never
know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of
slavery." (baby is black because of him !)

5. Setting
Where did it happen?
● Southern United States,
Louisiana
● Cotton Farm
Time
● Times of slavery
● Before American Civil War (ca.
1800)

6. Main Characters
Désirée
● Described as “beautiful,
affectionate,
sincere and gentle”
● Was abandoned and got
adopted by Monsieur
and Madame Valmondé
Armand
● Own plantation
● Has slaves
● Is racist
● Has black ancestors
Madame Valmondé
● Adopted désirée
● Wealthy
Monsieur Valmondé
● Adopted désirée
● Wealthy

7. Theme
● Racism and Gender Bias
○ Armand judges by the race
○ Black people are considered
less than human
○ Men have more power than
women “When he frowned,
[Désirée] trembled,
● Judging by Appearances
○ Armand doesn’t want the
child anymore since it is black

8. Conflict
Man vs. society
● Black people are considered
inferior
○ Désirée doesn’t want to be blamed
as the one who has black
ancestors
● Armand is scared to have a
child with a black women
○ gives up the women he loved
because of the influence of the
society

9. Climax
The climax occurs when
Désirée realizes that her
baby is of mixed racial
heritage

10. Symbols
● Bonfire:
○ He burns all his memory of Désirée and him
○ Burns the love he had for her
● Pillar in front of Valmondé’s house
○ Strength (Désirée as baby, fell in love)
● October afternoon
○ Everything comes to an end/gets darker (marriage)
○ Sun shines at Désirées hair → Blond (white)

11. Love
Overcoming Pride

12. Black ancestors (His mother was
colored)