An Analysis of African-American Criticism in Kate Chopin’s Desiree’s Baby

Melinda
University of Trunojoyo Madura

African-American Criticism of literature appeared in the late 1960s because of the

long history and culture of black racism. The discrimination to dark-skinned people in
America continent highlighted that blacks were not seen as truly human because of
their physical appearance. Therefore, their human rights were robbed in the form of
slavery by whites. During the rising of Black Arts Movement, a lot of black authors
voiced out their demand of humanity, such as Countee Cullen, Toni Morrison, Amiri
Baraka, and more. Their literary works were valued as criticism and campaign for
their rights of life and rights of living life as the same as whites.
One of the most phenomenal literary works is done by Kate Chopin, Desiree’s
Baby (1893). It tells about an 18-year old woman named Desiree who was considered
as white, but she did not know what her origin actually is. When she was young, she
was adopted by Mansiour Valmonde and Madam Valmonde who had no child. Then
she married a white widower with dark skin named Armand Aubigny who owned a
plantation and a numerous number of black slaves. The conflict in the short story
reaches its peak when Desiree gave a birth to a little boy with black skin. Aubigny
could not accept that, then demanded Desiree and her baby to go from his life. This
short story portrayed how racism causes alienation in relationships and consequences
of man’s evil institution.
Basically, society determine a lot about how people is perceived and how they
will see themselves using the standard of social construction. Black race is considered
as the cursed race which has no right to live or gain what other races get. An example
is implicitly shown by Chopin in Madam Valmonde’s reaction which reflect the
society during her time. She said “This is not the baby” to show refusal and denial
that Desiree’s baby should be white, not black. However, the young mother Desiree
did not get her point, besides of her maternal instinct as a mother who accept her baby
unconditionally.
Another example is depicted in an irony of Armand Aubigny physical appearance
and how society perceived him. He had darker skin than the white standard, even
darker than his wife’s skin. However, his status is officially considered as white
because his parents were white, too. Moreover, he had something that other blacks did
not have, like a plantation, a plenty of slaves, and status as a bourgeois (a landlord and
a slave master).
This treatment from society was greatly affecting Aubigny’s mindset where he
was really convinced that he was not black. Therefore, the blame went to Desiree who
could not remember her past and origin. At the moment Aubigny realized he could
not live a life with a woman who gave a birth to a black baby, he decided to turn them
out. A bit of feminism exists here, when Desiree thought she had no choices and
rights to justify herself because her husband did not want to listen. She was not able to
convince that she and her baby were not blacks, or speak out that they were still
humankind, or ask why blacks were alienated.
Both Aubigny and Desiree let themselves being ruled and dictated by social
construction. It resulted in their relationship and the next choices they made. Desiree
was alienated by her husband in her own home, both physically and psychologically.
Chopin portrayed the poor woman as “silent, white, and motionless” to show her
gloom and despair. When she brought her baby moved away from Aubigny’s house, it
symbolizes her broken marriage vows. When she walked down the deserted field, she
secluded themselves from society. When she self-slaughtered herself and her baby by
drowning together in a bayou, she cut off themselves with life. Aubigny then realized
that he was the black one from his mother’s letter to his father. However, Chopin
never told how it ends from Aubigny’s perspective. Whether he regretted his action or
not, it depends on the readers’ conclusion.
The whole short story mainly tells about black racism, but a slight of humanity
can be found there. Through her letter, Madam Valmonde was willing to accept
Desiree and her baby whose basically her daughter and grandson. Her humanity is
shown to tell that some people still accept the rejected. Madam Valmonde was giving
rights to live and stay as human being to Desiree and her baby, although she
abandoned it. Another part which implicitly shows humanity is Desiree’s baby
himself. He was merely rejected because he was black, although he might get more
privilege as a male being. However, society back then in America prefer to female
baby with white pigments. The innocent and pure baby become the victim of racism
cruelty even before he understands why he did not deserve to breath.
Chopin’s story is just one of many literary works which depict the evil of racism,
especially black racism in America continent. The racism which had been existed for
a long time lead to other kind of wickedness, like slavery, robbed rights,
assassination, and else. Although we barely find those cases nowadays, those literary
works are still worth to be learned. Because the form had changed into the
institutionalized racism where racist policies and practices can be found in the
institutions which operated by society, such as politics, economy, social, and many
more (Tyson 2006: 361). The case of racism and the mindset of racist will be lasted
along with the life of different colored humans.

References:
Essays, UK. (2018). Analysis of Desiree’s Baby by Kate Chopin. Retrieved from
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-literature/analysis-of-desirees-baby-by-
kate-chopin-english-literature-essay.php
Tyson, Lois. (2006). Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide. (Second
Edition). New York: Routledge.