Love and Identity in 'Désirée's Baby'

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Questions and Answers

Match the characters with their associated roles or attitudes in "Désirée's Baby":

Madame Valmondé = Unconditional parental love Armand Aubigny = Conditional and status-driven love Désirée = Believes her identity is defined by wifehood and motherhood Monsieur Valmondé = Concerned about Désirée's parentage

Match the themes with their description in the story:

Parental Love = Unconditional acceptance despite unknown origins Marital Love = Flawed and limited by status and prejudice Racial Purity = An idol for Armand, more important than love for Désirée Status = Armand's obsession, influencing his actions and choices

Match the events with the symbolism they represent:

Armand's changing affection towards Désirée = The fragility of conditional love Burning corbeille = Rejection and contamination Désirée's trembling = Her dependence on Armand's moods and validation Ordering the corbeille from Paris = Emphasis on his status and wealth

Match the character's actions with their underlying motivations:

<p>Armand's initial love for Désirée = Attraction mixed with desire for a worthy wife Armand's rejection of Désirée = His prejudiced beliefs about race and purity Désirée's acceptance of her fate = Belief that her identity depends on her marriage Monsieur Valmondé's initial reluctance = Foresight about the implications of Désirée's parentage</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the phrases from the story with their impact on Désirée:

<p>'He is a better, kinder man when he is in love with her' = Désirée's belief in her power to change Armand 'When he frowned she trembled' = Désirée's dependence on Armand's approval 'As a white woman, Désirée was maddeningly enticing' = Armand's superficial attraction to Désirée 'as a mixed-race woman, she disgusts him' = Armand's dehumanization of Désirée based on race</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Parental love

A kind of love characterized by unconditional acceptance and care, regardless of individual circumstances. In "Désirée's Baby," Madame and Monsieur Valmondé demonstrate this kind of love by accepting Désirée without knowing her origins and continuing to love her even when they believe she is of mixed heritage.

Conditional love

A kind of love that is based on conditions and can be easily withdrawn. In "Désirée's Baby," Armand's love for Désirée is conditional on her being white. When he discovers he believes she is of mixed heritage, he rejects her.

Racial purity

The belief that one's identity is defined by their race or ethnicity. Armand's actions reveal this belief, as he initially loves Désirée but rejects her when he believes she is of mixed heritage.

Status obsession

The obsession with maintaining or elevating one's social standing. Armand's passionate courtship of Désirée is driven by his desire to maintain his family's status, and he is later disgusted with her when he believes she is of mixed heritage.

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Idol of authority

An unyielding allegiance to authority and traditional values. Armand's actions reveal this as he rejects Désirée based on his beliefs about race and his family's tradition.

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Study Notes

Love and Identity in "Désirée's Baby"

Two types of love are key: parental love, shown by the Valmondés, and marital love, which is flawed.
Madame and Monsieur Valmondé's love is unconditional, potentially saving Désirée from despair if she had returned home.
Armand's love is conditional, tied to his perception of racial purity. He is more interested in maintaining his status than in his wife.
Désirée believes her identity is defined by her role as wife and mother. Her happiness is tied to Armand's approval.

Armand's Character and Motivations

Armand prioritizes status and authority. His identity is rooted in his family name and wealth.
He expects Désirée to maintain societal roles. Armand's identity is threatened when Désirée gives birth to a child of mixed heritage.
He views his possessions as extensions of his self-worth. This is shown through burning luxury goods.
Armand's actions stem from fear of losing social status and authority.
His reaction to the mixed-race child is driven by deeply ingrained racial prejudices and insecurities.
He rejects anything that challenges his idea of purity.

Désirée's Character and Fate

Désirée's identity comes from the love and acceptance of her adoptive family, and later her role as wife and mother.
She lacks a strong sense of rootedness, a generational history, to sustain her identity.
She is completely dependent on Armand's love and approval. When he rejects her, she loses a sense of self, and disappears.
Désirée's identity is fragile—depending on the acceptance and affirmation from her husband.
Désirée's identity is shaped entirely by her relationships with others, particularly Armand.

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Description

This quiz explores the themes of love and identity in Kate Chopin's short story 'Désirée's Baby'. It examines the contrasting types of love portrayed by the Valmondés and Armand, and the impact of societal expectations on the characters’ identities. Test your understanding of how these elements shape the narrative and character motivations.