“Desiree’s Baby”

a story witch reveals an uglier side of human nature and relations.

The relationship between Desiree and her adoptive parents portrays true love, based on

affection and free of prejudice. Desiree is a toddler when she is found by Mousier

Valmande at the gate of his estate in Louisiana. She is taken in and raised by her adoptive

parents, who grow to genuinely love her, despite her obscure origin. Madam Valmande

considers Desiree to be a gift of Providence, because she can not have any children of her

own, and showers the girl with real affection. In response to such true love Desiree grows

up to be not only beautiful physically but “affectionate and sincere”,

who will continue his important family name. When the baby is three month old, Armand realizes that the child is of mixed blood and accuses Desiree of not being of white race. Armand can no longer love his child or his wife because of what he perceives to be an injury to his family name. Armand’s love is revealed to be superficial. Driven by the prejudice against the black race and injured pride he chooses to discard his family bringing destruction to his family and ultimately to his name.

welcomes her and her child home “back to your mother who loves you”.

Desiree’s parents love is put to the test when Desiree is accused of being not white.

To be with her he left his plantation and his important name in Louisiana and went to live

love influenced by pride a

Some topics in this essay:
Louisiana” Soon, Madam Valmande, Armand Aubigny’s, Armand Aubigny, Kate Chopin’s, Armand Desiree, Mousier Valmande, genuine love, armand’s love, black race, adoptive parents, love test, superficial love, true love, relationship armand, family name,