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The Works of Kate Chopin


            Kate Chopin's works, for example, "Desiree's Baby" and "Story of an Hour", contribute to my understanding of the south in the nineteenth century and the treatment of women in society. African Americans were looked down upon in the south during the nineteenth century and were viewed as impure based on skin color. Women were underestimated and viewed as weak just based on gender. "Desiree's Baby" and "Story of an Hour" relate to each other because they are both about slavery. "Desiree's Baby" is about racial slavery while "Story of an Hour" is about emblematic slavery. .
             Racism is an established subject throughout "Desiree's Baby", as the color of a person's skin is the main element that determines the value of his life. "For 200 years slavery was a mighty social, economic and political institution in Louisiana. Racial segregation followed. Since Louisiana always has had a heavy Catholic flavor, its past is a good measure of Catholic response to slavery and racism (Campion)". During the 1890's African Americans were looked down upon. If you even had a drop of African in you, you were still viewed as African. This is the reason why Armand is conflicted when he finds he is actually the one that is of mixed race and destroys any evidence that would expose him. Armand always believed that he was part of reputable society and was on a pedestal because of his rich white origin, but because of the low view of blacks in society, his new link with them strips the meaning and importance from his life.  The theme of race throughout "Desiree's Baby" reveals racism in a universal nature. The characters are thrown into the situation to deal with race the way it is dealt with in the real world when they are removed from their established high society settings. In short, they came face to face with reality. Armand is recognized to be of high society in Louisiana, and this social status secluded him from the reality of where he came from.


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