Desiree's Baby

Desiree's Baby Literary Elements

Genre

Historical Realism

Setting and Context

Mid-Nineteenth-Century Louisiana

Narrator and Point of View

Third-Person Omniscient

Tone and Mood

The tone is at times ominous, hinting at trouble that lies ahead, particularly as a result of the decisions that Armand Aubigny makes (which are quite rash and hasty in nature). Otherwise, the gaiety with which Desiree expresses her love for Armand and excitement for her newborn serve as lighter moments in the story.

Protagonist and Antagonist

Antagonist: Armand Aubigny | Protagonist: Desiree Aubigny

Major Conflict

Because of Armand's status as a wealthy, white plantation and slave owner - and his racism - he finds it unacceptable that the child he has with his wife is of mixed heritage. He accuses Desiree of being part black, and despite her pleas, Desiree is told by Armand to leave. She takes the child with her. Eventually Armand learns, through a letter from his mother to his father, that his mother was black. As such, Armand was actually the person of mixed heritage in the relationship, not Desiree.

Climax

Armand Aubigny learns that his mother is black.

Foreshadowing

Armand Aubigny's behavior is incredibly rash, and his decisions are informed more by his emotions than logic. As such, the narrator gives hints here and there about the possible consequences that his decisions will have for Desiree in particular, but most devastatingly (and ironically) himself.

Understatement

N/A

Allusions

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Imagery

See Imagery section.

Paradox

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Parallelism

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Metonymy and Synecdoche

N/A

Personification

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