Wow. That was really all that I could say at the end of the text. I must talk about Desiree's Baby. I am truly speechless. I wish that I could watch this short story in a film because I would want to see the expression of Armand's face after he reads the letter.
I have read Chopin's work before. The Awakening was the only text we read where a woman made use of her "womanly power". Chopin has a way of making the female sex look and seem so powerful doing simple, every day things. As for the text I am speaking on, Desiree's Baby, I have to make this biblical.
In God's eyes, a woman's duty is to be silent which is the sin of getting Adam to eat the fruit was so punishable. Here, in Chopin's text, once Desiree realized what was disturbing her and her house, she simply did not force conversation upon Armand. She asked "what does it mean", wrote to her mother, and left. There was no arguing. No conversation. Desiree acted as a woman should. And in doing this, God took care of everything else.
Chopin plays a lot towards sexuality. Through her work, I feel that she was a woman who was not afraid to say "I am woman". Women didn't cheat, women were these "holy" creatures. But Chopin changes that image, and gives women power; their own womanly right.
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I liked how you started your prompt with simply "wow". I had the same reaction after I read "Desiree's Baby". It was such a sad story and I felt very sorry for Desiree. I felt even angrier at Armand because he just comes off as a huge hypocrite even if he didn't know he was black. That shouldn't be an issue. Just because one person is one race and the other is another doesn't mean it should block the feelings two people may have for each other. For Armand to tell Desiree to simply leave and he didn't want her there any more was really inhumane and cruel.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I think Desiree's Baby would make a great movie. Although I don't watch too many love stories I feel this one would not only have that love story appeal, but also address the racial boundaries and struggles that are very much still part of society today. Perhaps another Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt movie? I mean they already have a little black baby right?
ReplyDeleteHey Domonique,
ReplyDeleteI liked "Desiree's baby" too. I think that karma is going to slap Armand in the face one day. The only thing i did not like is the way it is kind of open ended. Did he call Desiree when he found out about the letter? Did he try to make amends? We are left with the unknown. Good job and your post!