What is ironic about "Desiree's Baby"?

Question

What are all the irony's in the story? The story is by Kate Chopin.

Answer 1

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Irony plays a big part in the story. At the end of the story Kate Chopin leaves the reader with information regarding Armand in the form of a letter that his mother wrote. She wrote, “ night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged [her and her husband’s] lives that [her and her husband’s] dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery”. This reveals the real truth that Armand is the one who is black and likely not Désirée. It is also ironic that while he had destroyed Désirée’s life that he also in fact ruined his as well because he lost his wife, lost his baby, and also lost his important self-image, for he claimed that he had one of the best names in Louisiana. The way that the characters are described is also ironic. Critic Cynthia Griffin Wolff says, “In the end, only Armand’s skin is genuinely colored-a ‘dark, handsome face’ ”. While Armand is portrayed that way, Désirée is surrounded by whiteness. Robert D. Arner points out examples of Désirée being surrounded by whiteness. Recovering from a difficult labor, Désirée lies “in her soft white muslins and laces, upon a couch.” She stands next to Armand “like a stone image: silent, white, motionless” after she receives her mother’s letter and allows Armand to read and respond to it. At the end the reader is left with an image of Désirée wearing a thin white garment. Kate Chopin also has Désirée confront Armand about her skin color saying “Look at my hand; whiter than yours, Armand. These ironies all lead the reader to the actual truth, but then again try to mislead the reader at the same time.

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