A Review of "Desiree's Baby"
A Review of "Desiree's Baby"
Desiree’s Baby was perhaps one of the best short stories I have ever read. It started out slow. I wondered where the story line was going. Then it reaches out and catches your attention.
The story begins with the narrator speaking of Desiree, and how she was found lying asleep, next to the property entrance. It was apparent she was abandoned, there were assumptions of whom may of possibly left the small infant child. The story line takes place in Louisiana. During the particular time era, and in this region, large plantations were very common; slavery had yet to be abolished. The family who found Desiree where plantation owners and presumed wealthy. The name of the great plantation is Valmonde. Its namesake comes from the name of the owners. One particular point to recognize and remember is the narrator states that the “Madame” believes the child to be essentially a gift. Make note that he says she was without child of the flesh. This is important to remember because there are many assumptions at the end of the story.
When Desiree is 18 a man named Armand Aubigny realizes he is perhaps in love with her deeply. I thought it was strange that this happened so suddenly because it is said he knew her since he was eight years old. Something I noticed that it took me a second reading was, that he lived in France and his mother also died there before he came home.
A point definitely to be remembered. The story talks that perhaps she never even came to America, because she “loved her own land too well ever to leave it”.
The two soon marry and their plantation is said to have once been a beautiful place, however it is not so pretty currently. It also mentions how all the slaves whom worked for Armands father were happy yet under Armands strict rule things were not so pleasant. Another key point is to take note of how he treats his slaves.
Desiree has a baby boy, it mentions how her mother comes to visit and she takes notice to...