Themes

Here we present the main themes of of "Désirée’s Baby and discuss the underlying message of the text, together with motifs and symbols.

Racism and gender inequality

Racist attitudes towards creole or black people are deeply rooted in the United States, and not only. Consider the story is set prior to the American Civil War, which eventually led to the abolition of slavery. Americans in the South are known to have been pro-slavery and anti-abolitionists. In the story, Armand is the one affected by racial prejudice. As a slave owner, he clearly views slaves as inferior persons and treats them as such: “And the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his dealings with the slaves”. (p. 24, ll. 25-26)

The presumption of his wife being a creole fills him with shame, as he feels he has married an inferior person: “Moreover he no longer loved her, because of the unconscious injury she had brought upon his home and his name”. (p. 25, ll. 36-37)

The irony of the story is that it has Armand who had creole genetic inheritance.

Apart, from Armand, Mr. Valmondé also shows some concerns regarding Désirée’s’ origins: “Monsieur Valmondé grew practical and wanted things well considered: that is, the girl's obscure...