Kate Chopin -- Short Fiction

Notes and Discussion Questions

"Desiree's Baby" (1892) -- Discussion Questions:

1. What does Desiree's mother see which alarms her?

2. Why does Armand become hostile towards Desiree and the baby?

3. Explain the last four paragraphs -- what do we discover?

4. What is the central idea or theme?

"Desiree's Baby" (1892)-- Reading Notes:

• Armand believes that black blood lies within Desiree

• Armand's mother "belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery."

• Therefore, he is a quadroon, not her, yet she is punished by him.

• What thematic issues -- social, political, etc. -- might his punishment of her suggest?

• Possible theme: "Slavery is wrong."

• Possible theme: "Don't judge a person by their race / skin color."

• Possible theme: "Don't jump to conclusions without gathering all the facts."

Simple Genetics: