Desiree's Baby Chopin

During Chopin’s life, there was a lot of oppression in women’s lives because they were constantly being molded, restricted, and immobilized because of society and their pressures they put on women (Frye 68). Society constantly placed gender roles on women, which were “society’s views or expectations of women” (Fox-Genovese 37) and women could not possibly escape these social pressures from society (Frye 69). Examples of society’s social pressures on women include marriage, children, and domesticity. These social pressures placed on women did not allow women to become their own self because women’s “social role[s] [conflicted] with her true identity” (Jones 121). Women had a difficult time finding their own identity because of these social pressures. One of the first social pressures placed on women is marriage. While women are growing up, they are told that “marriage is her ultimate goal” (Goldman372) and they have to get married in order to fit in society. Many critics, though, argue that marriage should not be a goal for
Throughout the story, Armand is described as dark. For example, in the text, Armand is described as a “dark, handsome face” (Chopin 1521) and his house, L’Abri, projects his dark personality (Arner 142). This “darkness” within Armand demonstrates his “sensuality and aggressiveness” (Arner 145) toward Desiree. Thus, this means Armand has complete control over Desiree. An example of Armand’s control over Desiree is when is “when he frowned she trembled, but loved him. When he smiled, she asked no greater blessing of God” (Chopin 1521). This shows whenever Armand is happy, Desiree is happy. If Armand is angry, Desiree will be upset. Consequently, Desiree intertwines her emotions with Armand and causes her to not have her own