Love and Identity in Désirée's Baby

Love and Identity in "Désirée's Baby"

• Two types of love are explored: parental and marital.
• Madame and Monsieur Valmonde's parental love is unconditional.
• Armand's marital love is conditional, based on appearances and social status.
• Désirée's identity is tied to her roles as Armand's wife and mother. She believes her identity is defined by her wifehood and motherhood.
• Armand prioritizes social status and authority. His love is tied to his sense of status and authority.
• Armand is more in love with the ideal of racial purity than with Désirée.
• His love for Désirée is challenged when he suspects their son is of mixed heritage.
• Armand's identity is rooted in family name, wealth, and social expectations.
• This identity is shattered by the realization of his son's mixed heritage.
• Armand's destructive actions arise from a need to maintain his identity.
• Désirée's identity is fragile, relying on Armand's acceptance and social roles. She lacks a generational history.
• When Armand rejects her, Désirée's identity frays. She disappears, believing she has no identity.
• The story highlights the influence of social pressures, expectations, and community structures on identity.
• Désirée has identity only conditionally, lacking a generational history and culture.
• Armand's actions reveal his belief in racial purity and its impact on identity.