woman holding a baby walking out into the bayou

Désirée's Baby

by Kate Chopin

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Topics for Discussion

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1. Outline Armand's strengths and weaknesses.

2. How does Armand's cruelty stem from the socially endorsed racist attitudes that characterized the South in the nineteenth century? What other elements contribute to his cruelty?

3. Explain the nature of Armand's love for Desiree. What factors influence his affection for her?

4. Point out the clues in the story that hint Armand might have always known he, not Desiree, has mixed ancestry.

5. Why do you think Armand chooses to marry Desiree despite her unknown heritage? What does this decision reveal about his character?

6. Can you identify Chopin's references that associate Armand with evil? How do these references contrast with those that depict Desiree as good?

7. What message is Chopin trying to convey by titling her story "Desiree's Baby"?

8. What drives Desiree to vanish into the bayou?

9. Compare Desiree's motherly love with that of Madame Valmonde.

10. Who do you believe is the narrator of this story? How did you arrive at this conclusion?

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