I really do not think that the baby in Chopin's story "Desiree's Baby" has a real purpose towards the marriage. That is the basis of the story is not really around the effects of a baby, but the effects of racism. Desiree's baby is simply a turning point in the story, portraying an individual's true form, Armand and even Desiree, "...tell me it is not true...I must die. I cannot be so unhappy and live" (664). Chopin is trying to show that marriage, and even further family, sees no color. Armand had fallen in love with an african-american woman, fathered an african-american baby, and at one point lived a life with both in unconditional love. However, the mere knowledge of an unequal race, of the time, living in his home turned him into a heartless and spiteful man. I find great irony in the end of the story, "...Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery" (665), where the very reason he disowned his wife and son, burdened his own family. Desiree and him had a lot more in common than he thought. Chopin truly exposes ignorance of past societies, in particular slavery and inequality among race. Armand owned slaves, was cruel to slaves, was married to an african-american woman, and was among their race himself! It goes to show love is from within and family should be sacred, regardless of underlying conditions.
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i have to disagree with you that Désirée was a black women. the description of her on page 664 was that her hair was brown, her eyes were grey, her skin was fair, and her hands were whiter than his. she was a white women. it was armand's father who married another race. i do agree with you that he felt unconditional love for the both of them until he thought they were of another race.
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