Compare And Contrast Desiree's Baby And Imitation Of Life
Ta’Jauwanna Collins
Professor Collins
Composition & Literature 102
2 October 2015
A Comparison of “Desiree’s Baby” and Imitation of Life In Kate Chopin’s short story “Desiree’s Baby”, the main character Desiree is adopted and found by a rich French couple down in Louisiana. She falls in love with a well-respected guy name Armand, they marry and then starts a family of their own. The child turns out to have dark skin and since Desiree’s race is unknown it is assumed that she is half black. It is revealed later in the story that her husband Armand is the one that is half black. The film Imitation of Life, directed by James Sisk, is mainly about two single mothers, Lora and Annie, struggling to make a life for themselves and their two young daughters, Susie and Sarah Jane. Lora is a model and actress who is trying to make it to the big stage. Annie is an African-American who is looking for a safe environment for she and her daughter, Sarah Jane. As Lora’s career takes off she starts spending less time with her daughter, Suzie. Meanwhile, Annie is loving to her daughter and would do anything for Sarah Jane, but Sarah Jane does everything to hide from her …show more content…
In “Desiree’s Baby”, Desiree is just the wife and the mother of Armand’s child that he ends up denying. Women did not have a say so at all during this time. Armand is the very strict slave owner, but he is also the “breadwinner”, but he makes Desiree feel complete when he is showing her his soft side. When he starts to disown the baby that’s when Desiree becomes weak because he blames her for him being mixed blood. That is when she tells her mom “My mother, they tell me I am not white. Armand tells me I am not white. For God’s sake tell them it is not true. You must know it is not true. I shall die. I must die. I cannot be so unhappy, and live” (Chopin 5). After Armand tells her to take the baby and leave, Desiree becomes depressed and does not want to live
Professor Collins
Composition & Literature 102
2 October 2015
A Comparison of “Desiree’s Baby” and Imitation of Life In Kate Chopin’s short story “Desiree’s Baby”, the main character Desiree is adopted and found by a rich French couple down in Louisiana. She falls in love with a well-respected guy name Armand, they marry and then starts a family of their own. The child turns out to have dark skin and since Desiree’s race is unknown it is assumed that she is half black. It is revealed later in the story that her husband Armand is the one that is half black. The film Imitation of Life, directed by James Sisk, is mainly about two single mothers, Lora and Annie, struggling to make a life for themselves and their two young daughters, Susie and Sarah Jane. Lora is a model and actress who is trying to make it to the big stage. Annie is an African-American who is looking for a safe environment for she and her daughter, Sarah Jane. As Lora’s career takes off she starts spending less time with her daughter, Suzie. Meanwhile, Annie is loving to her daughter and would do anything for Sarah Jane, but Sarah Jane does everything to hide from her …show more content…
In “Desiree’s Baby”, Desiree is just the wife and the mother of Armand’s child that he ends up denying. Women did not have a say so at all during this time. Armand is the very strict slave owner, but he is also the “breadwinner”, but he makes Desiree feel complete when he is showing her his soft side. When he starts to disown the baby that’s when Desiree becomes weak because he blames her for him being mixed blood. That is when she tells her mom “My mother, they tell me I am not white. Armand tells me I am not white. For God’s sake tell them it is not true. You must know it is not true. I shall die. I must die. I cannot be so unhappy, and live” (Chopin 5). After Armand tells her to take the baby and leave, Desiree becomes depressed and does not want to live