Desiree’s Baby

by
Kate Chopin
 Kate Chopin
Biography
• 1850 – 1904

• Desiree's Baby was her first story in Vogue

• Began writing after her husband’s death as a means of
supporting her family. Mother of six children.
• Book The Awakening was the most controversial

2
 Kate Chopin
Biography

• Her writing draws upon the principles of local color

• Kate Chopin grew up during the Civil War which

caused her to be separated from a friend from school.
 Kate Chopin
Biography
• Kate Chopin= is best known for her work that uses
regionalism.

• Regionalism- is used to establish the setting. Many of

Chopin’s works are set in the middle of Louisiana
culture.

In “Desiree’s Baby”, the author examines prejudice

within a wealthy family.
 Kate Chopin
• Biography
Book The Awakening was the most controversial.
• The Awakening is a study in female psychology, but more
importantly, in human rights.  
• The whole reason this book was condemned:
o the time it was published and society's ideas of women
and their place.   The Awakening deals with a woman
who is tired of being told what to do, when to do it and how
to do it.
 Kate Chopin
Biography
• The content and message of The Awakening caused an uproar
and Chopin was denied admission into the St. Louis Fine Art
Club based on its publication.

• Chopin was terribly hurt by the reaction to the book and in

the remaining five years of her life she wrote only a few short
stories, and only a small number of those were published.
• Desiree’s Baby
“Desiree’s Baby” features internal reflection
and Love
external conversation in roughly equal measure.

• Infatuation happens “at first sight” (internal).

• ***The actual marriage is developed/destroyed

only through external conversations between

characters (or lack of conversation).
 Desiree’s Baby
•
Antebellum
Ornate, detailed
Fashion
• Clothing indicated the wearer’s class status

• Women wore corsets and wide hoopskirts

• Women wanted to obtain an hourglass

figure.
•
\

•
Desiree’s Baby
 Desiree’s Baby
Corbeille
• Corbeille- Wedding
gift to the bride from
the groom, which
usually included
cashmere shawl,
purses, fan, jewels, and
lace. 8/28/2019
Mrs. Billet 10
 Desiree’s Baby
Clothing
• The “corbeille” (gift basket was given by the groom to the
bride. It comes from France; includes a Parisian layette.

• Her slippers are made for indoor use, not hard walking

• Her clothing is light-colored, but was probably still

structured and ornate

8/28/2019
Mrs. Billet 11
 Desiree’s Baby
Clothing
• The dress she wears at the end of the story is easily torn in
the fields—delicate fabric

• Armand keeps even the clothes at arm’s length at the end

of the story—instructs the slaves to do the burning.
 Desiree’s Baby
THEME
• Racism and Gender Bias
Armand judges people by race
Discrimination is based on race and sex
“when he frowned” “Desiree trembled”

• Judging People by Appearances

Armand doesn’t want the child anymore
 Desiree’s BabY
Conflict
• Man vs. Society
People are considered inferior based on race
Desiree doesn’t want to be blamed because of
her ancestry
• Society Pressure
Armand gives up the woman and child he loves
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 Desiree’s Baby
Vocabulary
• Imperious Domineering

• Layette Clothes and linens for infants

• Parish Church congregation

• Peignoir A dressing gown for women

 Desiree’s Baby
Vocabulary
• Pyre A pile of wood used for a large fire

• Corbeille Basket containing cashmere, jewels

• Suffused Gradually spreading through or over

• Quadroon A person having ¼ African ancestry

 Desiree’s Baby
Vocabulary
• Sumptuous Expensive, ornate

• Unwonted Unusual, unexpected

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 Desiree’s Baby
Vocabulary
Before the Civil War
• Antebellum
(one-quarter African)
• Quadroon
Marsh; swampland
• Bayou
God’s will
• Providence
• Corbeille Basket containing cashmere,
jewels
• Suffused Gradually spreading through or over

• Pyre A pile of wood used for alrge fire; Fire to burn a corpse
• layette Linens/bedding or clothing for an infant
 Desiree’s Baby
Vocabulary
• Cowl Large hood, A draped neckline on women’s clothing

• Accord Spontaneous or voluntary desire to take action

• Prevailing Most frequent

• Beneficent Producing benefit; beneficial
• Corbeille de marriage Wedding gifts
• Indulgent Lenient
• Portly Stout; corpulent; fat