In my understanding race does matter when the narrative deals with issues of race because it is easier to understand the struggles when you yourself are living it. However, race does not matter when it comes to defending people’s rights. The truth is that racism affects us all in many different ways. I believe Chopin portrays this statement very well in her story, because despite being a white woman, she points out the truth about being a person of color and the reality of what they were going through.
Category Archives: Chopin
Chopin
I think the race of the author does matter when the narrative touches on race. Especially in the United States, you are very likely to be born in a different area because of your race, which also means that you may be classified into a different class because of the color of your skin. These factors alone will make you different from other people. experience, have different points of view, and when we know the background of the author, readers can also know from what perspective the author is writing from.
Armand
When Armand learned about his family history, he regretted what he had done. Armand felt extremely guilty and thoughtless for discriminating against Desirée. It was the letter that awakened him when his mother was also of the slave race. He felt shocked and saddened when he witnessed the truth and was even more tormented by what he had done. Then, with all the guilt, Armand went to meet and apologize to Desirée.
Although really hurt with what she went through, with her selfless heart Desirée forgave Armand. Then he received a valuable lesson.
Armand
In the alternate ending of the story, Armand is shocked and saddened by the letter’s contents. He has never known his mother, and the fact that she is part of the enslaved race is difficult to swallow. Armand feels grief and regrets what his family must have gone through, and his heart breaks for the injustice they have experienced. He also feels immense guilt for how he has treated Desirée and their child and is now filled with regret. Armand realizes that he has judged Desirée harshly and unfairly and has let his insecurities and fears get the better of him. He now knows that he must make amends.
Armand takes a moment to compose himself before going to find Desirée. He finds her in her room, sitting with the baby in her arms. When she looks up at him, he can see the pain and hurt in her eyes, making him feel ashamed. He looks away, unable to meet her gaze. He apologizes for his behavior and tells her that he was wrong to accuse her of not being white. He admits to her that he is part of the enslaved race and has wronged her. Desirée is taken aback by his confession, but she can see the genuine remorse in his eyes. She forgives him, and they embrace him.
Armand and Desirée decide to leave L’Abri and return to Valmonde together. Armand is determined to make up for the wrongs he has done and to start a new life with his family. He begins to treat the enslaved people at the plantation with kindness and respect and is determined to ensure they have the freedom and equality they deserve. Armand works to make sure that his child is accepted by all, regardless of the color of their skin.
Desirée and Armand live out the rest of their lives together in peace and happiness. He is a better man because of his lessons, and he is eternally grateful to Desirée for her understanding and forgiveness. The couple work together to create a better world for their son and ensure that future generations will not have to endure the same struggles they have endured. They symbolize hope and positivity in a world filled with darkness and despair.
Chopin
I believe that the writer’s race matters when dealing with issues of race. Race is such as sensitive and controversial topic that those who speak from it do so from their own experiences and struggles. To have someone outside of their race to speak on something so personal can be seen as offensive to the targeted audience. While it is possible for a person not of the same race to speak on a topic regarding another person’s race, it is best if done within their own racial confines, like Chopin has done. We can see the differences in the portrayals between this work and in Gorilla, my love, with the way the dialogue and internal monologues are presented. Kate Chopin’s portrayal of these struggles in “Desiree’s Baby” is really well done. In this work, she was able to portray the prejudice and hate that black people faced back then and still do now.
Chopin
In my opinion, this question can only be answered depending on the context. Realistically, a white person will never understand the troubles that a black person deals with when it comes to racism. No matter who it is, the only way to understand would be to deal with the same circumstances, which is almost impossible. In this story, to elaborate, Kate Chopin gives the right perspective, as it is easy to tell through her writing that it is from the perspective of a white person. The facts that come down to experience are not elaborated on too much, and we only see emotions from the characters that anyone could explain to a degree. It is a basic concept to have your race revealed to you and would shock anyone to find out they aren’t who they thought they were. However, life after would require someone who understands the situation to write about. How her environment changes, etc.
Armand
Armand was taken aback. The hatred that burrowed itself within him was at a crossroads. His own hatred, was towards himself all this time. He thought of his wife, his child. The impact he wanted to give all along was all about himself. He wanted to give Desiree a better life, although his negative views were wiped of reason. Who was he really? Why did he try to wipe away Desiree’s past, when he shared the same heritage? Was he the one who truly wanted to switch his identity?
As he gazed upon the flames in front of him, he reached his hand out, an ember encasing his cloth.
Chopin
Kate Chopin was a white Creole writer from Louisiana. While her race may not have been a factor in her writing, it is possible that it influenced her view of race in America. Chopin grew up in a time when America was still struggling to come to terms with its racial past. The Civil War had only ended a few decades earlier, and the country was still struggling with issues of reconstruction and race relations. Chopin’s story, “Desiree’s Baby,” deals with the issue of adoption and the feelings of a white woman who adopts a black child. While the story is fictional, it is based on real-life events and may reflect Chopin’s own views on race (Chopin, 345). It is possible that her experience as a white Creole woman influenced her view of race in America, which may have contributed to the complicated and often contradictory attitudes towards race that are found throughout her writing. However, it is also possible that Chopin’s experiences simply reflected the attitudes of 19th century America, which were complex and evolving. It is impossible to say for certain what role race played in Chopin’s writing, but it is an important consideration when reading her work.
Chopin
The race of a writer can matter when the narrative deals with issues of race, as the writer’s personal experiences and perspective can shape the way they portray these issues in their writing. In the case of Kate Chopin, her background as a white woman from a family of slave owners and her marriage to someone in the cotton industry may have influenced the way she addressed racism in her short story. While it is important for all voices to be heard and for diverse perspectives to be represented, it is also crucial for writers to be aware of their own biases and to consider the potential impact of their race on the way they portray issues of race in their writing. In some cases, writers may choose to step back and allow voices from marginalized communities to take the lead in telling their own stories. Ultimately, the race of the writer should not be the sole determining factor in whether their work is valuable or valid. What is most important is the quality and authenticity of the writing, and whether it accurately and thoughtfully addresses the issues at hand.
Armand
After witnessing his wife, whom he loved dearly from the day he laid his eyes on her, leave their house distressed and in pain. Armand questioned if that was truly the right decision. “I mean I had to, otherwise no one would take me seriously as a slave master.” Armand reminded himself as he sat idly on what his life had become. The women he called his wife, the women he would stare passionately into, was something that society wouldn’t accept nor allow. A slave master that married his own slave, how could his family name go on. Surely it wasn’t the case but with the boy and his complexion, it would only be a matter of time before others would begin to question his authority as a slave master and more so the right to own the very land his family had passed down. Armand could feel his heart heavy knowing that the women he truly loved would never be seen again nor would his child feel the love of a father.
