Racial And Sexual Discrimination Throughout Desiree s...

Racial and Sexual Discrimination Throughout Desiree’s Baby and Society It was a very tough life for many women and blacks during the 19th Century because of the domination of the white men. Their social and economic lives showed the hardships they faced and was a constant reminder of the domination. The social ideology present in â€Å"Desiree’s Baby† was a powerful and dangerous force that showed no mercy to any character. A woman with small children who lost her husband would find no support or comfort from close family or even her peers during this time. Kate Chopin was a mother of six who was down on her luck, but fortunately she had the support and comfort from her mother for a brief time before she passed. After her mother’s death one of†¦show more content†¦Chopin uses Armand’s race was unimportant, because of his establishment in society, until he discovered he â€Å"belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery† (Chopin ) and how his black heritage leaves him to face a tragic and uncert ain future. Armand had always though that he was part of the established society and was on a pedestal because of his rich white heritage, but because of how low the view of blacks was, his new association with them takes way his meaning of life. Throughout the story, the significance of objects being labeled as â€Å"white† and â€Å"black† relates to the way that society during the time had associated white with greatness and positivity and black with devastation and negativity. One of the first references is when Chopin describes Armand’s love for Desiree as â€Å"sweeping over him like an avalanche† (Chopin). The love that is forged between Armand and Desiree is a positive point and their love is described as an avalanche, which is white. This provides the reader with the image of white as being positive throughout the rest of the story. Ellen Peel says that Armand is â€Å"a white male assured as his place as master† (Peel). The establishment of Armand with white skin gives him power and a position in society. Chopin relates L’Abri with darkness, as it is described as gloomy and the buildings â€Å"black like a cowl† and Desiree â€Å"shuddered at the sight of it† ( Chopin). This negative view of black images provides imagery for the