Saturday, May 1, 2010

Desiree was adopted by the Valmonde's family after she was found by the side of the road. The Valmonde's family have no children at all, so they took her and raised her as their own child. Probably we can ask how how did Kate Chopin know about slavery? Did she grow up with slaves in the house? Yes. Her family in St. Louis, like many families in the city, held slaves in the 1850s. This was the time when the story was written so Kate was used to see slaves around her and the way they were treated.

Desiree's Baby one of my favorite short stories by Kate Chopin was written on November, 1892. Desiree was Armand Aubigny wife. He was the owner of L'Abri. This story took place in Louisiana befor the American Civil War, at a time when a white slave owner often consider that because his females slaves were his property, he had the right to have sex with them. In the story Desiree does not know what to think about Armand, she beliefs that he was having sex with La Blanche before they were married and the worst is that she still wonders if Armand continues having sex with La Blanche. Desiree's Baby short story has been critized about racism. Probably because of the true bakcground of Armand on the story or because at the time it took place.