1. Fishbowl! Desiree’s Baby
Day 3

2. “Désirée’s Baby” characters
Armand Aubigny, owner of L’Abri
Désirée, an orphan, wife of Armand
Madame Valmondé, the woman who raised Désirée
Zandrine, a servant at L’Abri
La Blanche, a slave

3. “Désirée’s Baby” time and place
The story takes place in Louisiana before the American Civil War. It is one of the few stories Kate Chopin sets before the war.

4. Kate Chopin themes
• Many focus on themes related to women’s search for selfhood, for self-discovery or identity.
• Many also focus on women’s revolt against conformity, often against gender conformity or against social norms that limit women’s possibilities in life.
• Others write about women’s understanding of feminine sexuality or women’s experience of motherhood, pregnancy, or childbirth.

5. Desiree’s Baby themes
Racism and gender bias – Armand bases the worth of a person on his or her race and gender. After discovering that the child has colored blood, he becomes cruel.
Judging by appearances Armand loves Desiree’s outer beauty, not inner.
Love is colorblind – Armand rejecting Desiree because of her “mixed heritage” indicates that he never loved her.

6. Summary Desiree is an orphan who was found by the Valmondes.
She grows up and meets Armand.
They wed and have a child with a darker skin tone.
The child grows up and Armand realizes that the baby is not fully white. He assumes that Desiree is that cause of that.
He kicks her out, but soon discovers that his own mother was the one who was not fully white.

7. Fishbowl expectations
1. Free-write
2. Small group shares while whole class takes notes on what small group discussed. The whole class should jot down what they disagree with or can elaborate more on based on textual support.
3. Whole class shares with the small group the notes they took about their discussion.

8. Fishbowl!
In a letter to her mother, Desiree writes that she cannot live and that for that reason, she must die. Her statement was obviously charged with emotion, but one may argue whether death was the only option available to Desiree. Write a response in which you explain why you believe Desiree had to die. Alternately, if you believe that Desiree had other options which she simply did not identify or consider, then make that argument. If you choose the latter, be sure to explain how the story would have been different had Desiree lived.

9. Fishbowl expectations
1. Free-write
2. Small group shares while whole class takes notes on what small group discussed. The whole class should jot down what they disagree with or can elaborate more on based on textual support.
3. Whole class shares with the small group the notes they took about their discussion.

10. Fishbowl!
Although by the time her vindication(revenge) occurs it is too late, the prejudiced Armand learns that it was his mixed parentage and not that of his wife which produced their mixed- race child whom he despised and rejected. Write an essay in which you explain why Armand was so repulsed by his child and his wife. Consider, for example, the idea that prejudice(racism) can be described as a way to make Armand feel better about himself. Explain why it is important that Desiree is vindicated, even though it is too late for her.

11. Fishbowl expectations
1. Free-write
2. Small group shares while whole class takes notes on what small group discussed. The whole class should jot down what they disagree with or can elaborate more on based on textual support.
3. Whole class shares with the small group the notes they took about their discussion.

12. Fishbowl
Kate Chopin works hard to create a sense of suspense around the revelation of the mystery about the origins of the baby’s strange color. The reader is kept guessing for most of the story, and even when he or she believes that the answer is clear, a twist occurs just as the story ends. Write an essay in which you defend or contest Chopin’s particular use of suspense in this story. Analyze whether this technique was effective in maintaining the reader’s interest and developing higher stakes for the outcome.

13. Fishbowl expectations
1. Free-write
2. Small group shares while whole class takes notes on what small group discussed. The whole class should jot down what they disagree with or can elaborate more on based on textual support.
3. Whole class shares with the small group the notes they took about their discussion.

14. Fishbowl
Desiree loves Armand, who is hardly worthy of her love. Armand Aubigny initially treats the slaves strictly though after the baby was born he became more relaxed. Desiree feels very happy about this. Later, though, he reverts again to abusive behavior. Given this inconsistency and volatility, explain why Desiree might love Armand, and explain why Armand is so inconsistent in his emotions and treatment of others. Again, be sure to consider concepts of internalized oppression as a possible explanation for Armand’s behavior.