In Kate Chopins short story Desirees Baby she attempts to show the racial ideologies that were prevalent in her day. She does this by not only implementing a shocking twist into her story but by using very subtle clues that can be found upon close study. By comparing the circumstances in her characters lives before and after they become aware of their own or others racial heritage, Chopin points out that blacks were seen as an unhappy, miserable people and that only among whites can true happiness be found. Chopin creates these differences by using imagery and descriptions to stereotype both the blacks and whites in her story.
While examining the circumstances surrounding Desirees life after she becomes black we can see Chopins genius at work. First, we will look at how the influence of the Almighty God is viewed in her life. When she is first found in the shadow of the big stone pillar(270) abandoned as a white baby, it is seen as an act of God. Desiree was delivered to Madame Valmonde to be a source of happiness and light. Chopin spins this feeling of providence and happiness on its head when she explains Armands feelings after discovering the blackness that his wife possessed later in the story. Armand thinks to himself that the Almighty God had dealt cruelly and unjustly with him(273) and he feels that he is doing his God justice by stab[ing] thus into his wifes soul(273) when he tells her to leave. This comparison of how Gods influence was seen in Desirees life as a white woman and a black woman shows how ridiculous Chopin thought the racial ideologies of her day were. As a white child she was a blessing: as a black woman, a curse. The notion that God would view one of his children differently because of their skin color certainly was prevalent in her day and these instances from the story, along with the knowledge we have of the stories twist, make Chopins intentions very clear.
Both Desiree and Armand change their views and actions following the discovery as well. Before Desirees epiphany that her child is black Madame Valmonde comes to visit and finds her daughter extremely happy. Chopin even describes Desirees face as having a glow that was happiness itself(271) and Desiree exclaims to her mother Im so happy; it frightens me(271). Compare that description with this one given about black Desiree later in the story: Desiree was miserable enough to dieand her face the picture of fright(272). Furthermore, in Desirees letter to her mother she pens: I shall die. I must die. I cannot be so unhappy, and live(273). How can Desiree go from being frightened by her happiness to being so unhappy that she wished to die? Only the knowledge of her black heritage could erase the glow that was upon her face and replace it with a picture of fright that came from fear, not happiness. When compared with a character from Mark Twains Puddnhead Wilson we can see a similar method being used between the two authors. Tom Driscoll finds out as a young adult that he is in fact a black slave and not the white gentleman he had grown up as. His exclamations following this new bit of knowledge are very similar to Desirees: A nigger! I am a nigger! Oh, I wish I was dead! (PW, 117). Toms actions change as well in a variety of ways (the way he walks, uncomfortable shaking white friends hands, etc.) and Twain describes these new actions as stemming from the nigger in him. Both Twain and Chopin imply that an individual receiving new knowledge concerning the actuality of their black heritage will change the way they think, act and live; as well as the way the will be treated by others.
Armand also becomes a different person as the story progresses. His first changes comes as result to his falling in love with Desiree and the birth of his child, Armands demeanor softens and his dark, handsome face [is] not oftendisfigured by frowns (271). Before love, he was known as having a strict rule among his slaves, to the point that they forgot how to be gay. After the birth of his child Desiree tells her mother that he hasnt punished one of the slaves and that he even jokes with them. However, this new Armand quickly reverts to his old ways after his startling discovery. Chopin states that the very spirit of Satan seemed to suddenly take hold of him in his dealing with the slaves and that he constantly avoided Desiree and his child. Early on in the story while Armand is being questioned concerning Desirees obscure origin he simply looked into her eyes and did not care (270). Now that it has been found that she is of black descent he will only speak to her through averted eyes (272). The contrast between his actions before and after is very clear. The cause of this change is the fact that he thinks his wife is black, not white. Chopin is attacking the racial views that were prevalent in her day with Armands actions. Showing how one can go from having a deep love for another person to loathing them immensely simply because of their skin color makes these racial ideologies look rather childish and unnecessary. After the reader finds out that Armand is in fact the black presence in his childs features it is hard not to see the folly of racial identification and how incorrect it is.
To go along with the sharp contrast that exists in her characters lives, Chopin also uses imagery and descriptions to show this battle between darkness and light, good and evil. After reading the entire story it is found that Desiree is actually white while Armand is the son of a black mother. With this knowledge we can look at the text and see that Chopin was trying to show this to us all along. Desiree is described as being beautiful and gentle, affection and sincere (270). Her face at times is a glow (271) and after she receives an answer from her mother Chopin describes her state as being silent, white, [and] motionless (273). When she finally leaves Armands presence with her child she is wearing a thin white garment and the suns rays brought a golden gleam from its brown meshes (273). Everything surrounding Desirees appearance and personality is white, bright, beautiful and happy. Even when Armand is disposing of all of her possession he does so in a burning fire, one that I am sure would light up the darkest night. This personifies how happy a white person is. On the other hand Armand is described as being dark(271) and it is mentioned that Desirees skin is whiter than Armands. Armands place of residence is described in the following way: It was a sad looking placeThe roof came down steep and black like a cowlBig, solemn oaks grew close to it, and their thick-leaved, far-reaching branches shadowed it like a pall (270). Everything about Armand and his surrounding is black and shadowed. Armand never noticed his love for Desiree until he saw her in the shadow of a stone pillar. Examining these descriptions and imagery help us see how Chopin was stereotyping blacks and whites and change the way the story is read.
Chopin does a brilliant job of opening the eyes of her readers to the horrible racial ideologies of her days. By comparing the circumstances surrounding her characters throughout the story Chopin paints a picture that is easy to see. She obviously felt that blacks were treated unfairly and tried to show that by clearly painting whites as happy and bright while blacks were dark and miserable.
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