Discussion Topic
Armand's reaction to the birth of his baby in "Désirée's Baby" by Kate Chopin
Summary:
In "Désirée's Baby" by Kate Chopin, Armand initially feels joy at the birth of his child but becomes distant and cold when he realizes the baby is of mixed race. He wrongly blames Désirée for the child's heritage, leading to tragic consequences for her and the baby.
In Chopin's "Désirée's Baby," how does Armand react to his baby's birth?
In Chopin's "Desiree's Baby," Armand is characterized as an extremely impulsive individual. First he falls in love with Desiree when he first sees her, marries her quickly--regardless of her mysterious heritage--, and spends an incredible amount of money on Desiree in preparation for the wedding. Armand's reaction to his child's birth is no different. When Desiree's mother comes to visit her daughter and the infant, she asks Desiree what Armand thinks of the child. Desiree replies,
"Oh, Armand is the proudest father in the parish, I believe, chiefly because it is a boy, to bear his name; though he says not,—that he would have loved a girl as well."
She goes on to say that her husband has been kinder to the slaves since the baby's birth--it is almost as if he's a different man. Chopin includes this description of Armand's reaction to the child's birth to contrast it with his behavior when he...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
notices the darkening of the baby's skin color and acts cruelly and impulsively by expelling Desiree and his son from the plantation.
How does Armand react when his baby is first born?
After the baby is born, Armand is "the proudest father"; in fact, he is so happy that he becomes more lenient with his slaves.
As Désirée talks with her mother who pays her a visit, she answers her mother's question about Armand's first reactions upon seeing their baby, declaring that Armand is so proud because his baby is a boy. Apparently, however, Madame Valmondé has seen something in the baby for her to have asked this question. This is something that Désirée already has noticed; for, when the baby was nearly three months old, Désirée sensed that there was something subtle "menacing her peace." There were many far-off neighbors who came to see the baby, and her husband does not look her in the eye anymore.
He absented himself from home; and when there, avoided her presence and that of her child, without excuse. And the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his dealings with the slaves. Désirée was miserable enough to die.
When a quadroon (one-fourth African) boy who fans her one day, Désirée notices that he bears a strong likeness to her baby, and she begins to understand what has caused others to peer at the child.
“Armand,” she panted once more, clutching his arm, “look at our child. What does it mean? tell me.”
Her husband bluntly tells her that the baby is not white; she is not white. Poor Désirée believes him because she was a foundling. But, the irony of the story is that it is Armand who is not white. Even though the story of Armand's baby ends badly, when the baby is first born, Armand is happy and sees a happy future.