Desiree's Baby by Kate Chopin

Introduction

• Recording by: Linda McDaniel
• Platform: LibriVox (Public domain recordings)
• Story by: Kate Chopin

Characters

• Madame Valmondé: Adoptive mother of Desiree.
• Desiree: The foundling raised by Madame Valmondé.
• Armand Aubigny: Desiree's husband, owner of the plantation.
• Zandrine: The nurse of Desiree’s baby.

Plot Summary

Background

• Madame Valmondé discovered Desiree as a baby at the Valmondé estate, believed to have been abandoned.
• Desiree grows up loved and cherished by the Valmondé family.
• Armand Aubigny, from a well-known Louisiana family, falls in love with Desiree.
• Despite Desiree's unknown origins, Armand marries her without concern.

Life at L'Abri

• Desiree and Armand have a son.
• Madame Valmondé visits and notes changes in the baby's appearance.
• Desiree insists the baby is healthy and Armand is a proud father.
• Armand's behavior becomes colder and more distant.
• Armand's treatment of his slaves changes positively due to his son's birth.

Conflict

• Rumors and a mysterious change in the household suggest trouble.
• Desiree becomes aware of the subtle tension and change in Armand.
• Armand concludes that Desiree and the baby are not white.
• Desiree is devastated by Armand's cold accusation and rejection.

Climax

• Desiree writes to her mother, seeking confirmation of her whiteness.
• Madame Valmondé invites Desiree to return home with her child.
• Armand, confirming his resolve, tells Desiree to leave.
• Desiree, heartbroken, leaves L'Abri with her child, disappearing into the bayou.

Conclusion

• Armand burns Desiree’s belongings in a bonfire.
• He discovers a letter from his mother revealing that he himself is of mixed race.

Themes

• Race and Identity: The story explores the themes of racial identity, prejudice, and the implications of societal norms.
• Love and Betrayal: Armand's love quickly turns to rejection based on societal perceptions.
• Fate and Irony: The irony of Armand's own racial background being the true revelation.

Literary Devices

• Irony: Armand's rejection of Desiree based on assumptions; his own heritage is revealed to be mixed.
• Symbolism: The bonfire symbolizes destruction of what Armand once loved.

Setting

• Time: Post-Civil War South
• Place: Louisiana plantation, L'Abri

Conclusion

• The story ends with the tragic irony of Armand’s heritage, showing the destructive power of racism and the societal constructs of identity.