Armand Made Desiree

Janice Adams
Mrs. Ericsson AP English Language and Composition A

By conforming to the white racial purity that predominated in Southern aristocratic culture, Armand Aubigny made Desiree a victim of society. Armand’s actions throughout the story are focused on keeping his family’s name racially pure. What was considered racially pure in the pre-Civil War south? Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act of 1824 shows that the ‘one-drop’ rule was common practice, meaning that if someone has any trace of African blood in them, they were considered black. Though the severity of the ‘one-drop’ rule would have differed throughout the Southern States depending on the location and year, for the white aristocrat any affiliation with blacks in their direct
A families name and lineage were important to society, and to him. When Armand was faced with Desiree’s past, he was so blinded by love that he was also blinded to her “obscure origin.” (Chopin, 31) When considering her past, her parents, her history, “Armand looked into her eyes and did not care.” (31) However, when the subject of her namelessness was brought up, Armand hesitates. “What did it matter about a name when he could give her one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana?”(31) Instead of just ignoring her namelessness, Armand justifies it by saying his family is prestigious enough to cover for Desiree’s unintentional fault. In order for there to be a justification, there has to be some question about whether something is acceptable or not. The question here is about Desiree’s name. In their society, your family dictated your race, your ‘purity’, your social standing, and pretty much your future. Armand failed to consider that is name could be tarnished, that Desiree herself could tarnish his name. Armand’s confidence in the prestige of his family’s name reinforces the importance of a family’s name in the Antebellum South, and shows how far his family could fall if it was compromised by black blood. Society gave the Aubigny name prestige and power, and Armand wanted to keep his name on top. In order to do that, he had to conform to society, and let society control him.
He was a typical Southern aristocrat, and the things that mattered did not allow for Desiree. Desiree was a threat to Armand’s pure name, which in turn threatened his wealth, lands, and his successful place in society. Armand removed that threat. “Moreover, he no longer loved her, because of the unconscious injury she had brought upon his home and his name.” (Chopin 33) This seals the deal. Armand married Desiree for love, not for wealth or status or any other reason. When she hurt the things dearest to him, his home and name, the love left. When love left, there was no reason to stay with her. Moreover, her mere presence was a continual stab in the back, bringing him closer and closer to social death. Desiree became a liability, and so Armand removed her. It is not a Disney story where the prince gives up his crown to marry the slave, nor is the slave made a princess. It is a story where society does not allow for nobles to have mixed blood, where a woman with unknown past could be condemned for having impure blood without proof. It is a story where the prince is conditioned by that very society from birth and acts accordingly. It is a story where that prince, that society, victimizes someone who simply fell in