Desirees Baby by Kate Chopin 8282019 Mrs Billet

Desiree’s Baby by Kate Chopin 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 1

Kate Chopin Biography • 1850 – 1904 • Desiree's Baby was her first story in Vogue • Began writing after husband’s death as a means of supporting her family. Mother of six children. • Book The Awakening was the most controversial 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 2

Kate Chopin Biography • Her writing draws upon the principles of local color • Kate Chopin grew up during the Civil War which caused her to be separated from a friend from school. 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 3

Kate Chopin Biography • Kate Chopin= is best known for her work that uses regionalism. • Regionalism- is used to establish the setting. Many of Chopin’s works are set in the middle of Louisiana culture. In “Desiree’s Baby”, the author examines prejudice within a wealthy family. 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 4

Kate Chopin • Book The Awakening Biography was the most controversial. • The Awakening is a study in female psychology, but more importantly, in human rights. • o The whole reason this book was condemned: the time it was published and society's ideas of women and their place. The Awakening deals with a woman who is tired of being told what to do, when to do it and how to do it. 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 5

Kate Chopin Biography • The content and message of The Awakening caused an uproar and Chopin was denied admission into the St. Louis Fine Art Club based on its publication. • Chopin was terribly hurt by the reaction to the book and in the remaining five years of her life she wrote only a few short stories, and only a small number of those were published. 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 6

Desiree’s Baby Love • “Desiree’s Baby” features internal reflection and external conversation in roughly equal measure. • Infatuation happens “at first sight” (internal). • ***The actual marriage is developed/destroyed only through external conversations between characters (or lack of conversation). • 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 7

Desiree’s Baby Antebellum Fashion • Ornate, detailed • Clothing indicated the wearer’s class status • Women wore corsets and wide hoopskirts • Women wanted to obtain an hourglass figure. • • 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 8

Desiree’s Baby Corbeille • Corbeille- Wedding gift to the bride from the groom, which usually included cashmere shawl, purses, fan, jewels, and lace. 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 9

Desiree’s Baby Clothing • The “corbeille” (gift basket was given by the groom to the bride. It comes from France; includes a Parisian layette. • Her slippers are made for indoor use, not hard walking • Her clothing is light-colored, but was probably still structured and ornate 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 10

Desiree’s Baby Clothing • The dress she wears at the end of the story is easily torn in the fields—delicate fabric • Armand keeps even the clothes at arm’s length at the end of the story—instructs the slaves to do the burning. 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 11

Desiree’s Baby THEME • Racism and Gender Bias Armand judges people by race Discrimination is based on race and sex “when he frowned” “Desiree trembled” • Judging People by Appearances Armand doesn’t want the child anymore 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 12

Desiree’s Bab. Y Conflict • Man vs. Society People are considered inferior based on race Desiree doesn’t want to be blamed because of her ancestry • Society Pressure Armand gives up the woman and child he loves 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 13

Desiree’s Bab. Y Climax The climax occurs 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 14

Desiree’s Bab. Y Symbols Bonfire Pillar in front of Valmond’s house October afternoon 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 15

• Imperious Desiree’s Baby Vocabulary Domineering • Layette Clothes and linens for infants • Parish Church congregation • Peignoir A dressing gown for women 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 16

• Pyre Desiree’s Baby Vocabulary A pile of wood used for a large fire • Corbeille Basket containing cashmere, jewels • Suffused Gradually spreading through or over • Quadroon A person having ¼ African ancestry 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 17

Desiree’s Baby Vocabulary • Sumptuous Expensive, ornate • Unwonted Unusual, unexpected 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 18

• • Desiree’s Baby Vocabulary Before the Civil War Antebellum Quadroon (one-quarter African) Marsh; swampland Bayou Providence God’s will Corbeille Basket containing cashmere, jewels Gradually spreading through or over Suffused A pile of wood used for alrge fire; Fire to burn a corpse Pyre layette Linens/bedding or clothing for an infant 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 19

Desiree’s Baby Vocabulary • • Cowl Large hood, A draped neckline on women’s clothing Accord Spontaneous or voluntary desire to take action Prevailing Most frequent Beneficent Producing benefit; beneficial Corbeille de marriage Wedding gifts Indulgent Lenient Portly Stout; corpulent; fat 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 20

Desiree’s Baby Additional Sources • Vocabulary Quizlet • https: //quizlet. com/25384943/desirees-baby-vocabularyflash-cards/ • Full Text • https: //americanliterature. com/author/kate-chopin/short -story/desirees-baby 8/28/2019 Mrs. Billet 21