Desiree's Baby

The Architect of His Own Destruction College

We all have secrets and insecurities and we all make mistakes. Many of us do our best to hide our imperfections with the hopes that no one may ever know of our flaws. Problem is our biggest enemy already knows. You see, we can hide from the rest of the world but there is no escaping one’s self. Most people don’t realize that there is no greater battle than the one going on inside of you. In the story, “Desiree’s Baby” by Katie Chopin, we are introduced to Armand. Armand is a man full of resentment towards himself and his hidden truths. He in turn, allows himself to blame others for his dismay, when in reality he is his own enemy. “Desiree’s Baby” conveyed Armand’s self-hatred and denial in the way he treated others and these themes ideally brought into play; the conflict, man vs. self. In the story, “Desiree’s Baby” the themes of denial and self-hatred are impeccably demonstrated through the utilization of literary elements such as setting and the inner conflict of the antagonist; Armand.

In the times of racism and slavery, being black was the burden that no one wished to endure. Having been black in those times meant inferiority, it meant being uneducated, enslaved and owned by the “superior” race. Whites were in charge and...

Join Now to View Premium Content

GradeSaver provides access to 2313 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 10989 literature essays, 2751 sample college application essays, 911 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in