Examine the Conflict that Arises in the Stories "Desiree's Baby" and "Crackling Day".

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Rebecca Arnold 11O

Examine the Conflict that

Arises in the Stories “Desiree’s Baby” and “Crackling Day”

Racism has been an issue throughout time, and in some societies it is still present.  The belief that an individual of a different race or colour is not equal to an individual, who is “white”, has caused many fights, arguments and deaths.  In the nineteenth century, the slave trade was at its height, as we see in “Desiree’s Baby”.  The conflict between different races is also shown in “Crackling Day”.  Although both stories were written at different periods and set in different continents, both challenge the idea of racism.

“Desiree’s Baby” is set in the deep south of Louisiana.  It shows prejudice against the “blacks” by Armand Aubignys , a cruel plantation owner, “Young Aubigny’s rule was a strict one, too, and under it his Negroes had forgotten how to be gay”.  Armand is a very important man, as he owns a plantation, this also means that he has power over “his Negroes”.  Armand is full of self-importance, “what did it matter about a name when he could give her one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana?” and very proud of his family and his origins.  Within this society it is important to know a person’s background, as there was an order within the society.  For example Armand would be one of the men at the top of this order, whilst “his Negroes” would be at the bottom.  As Armand believes in this order, it is therefore a surprise to the reader when he falls in love with Desiree especially as “Monsieur Valmonde grew practical and wanted all things well considered: that this, the girl’s obscure origin.”  Desiree’s father loves her, and therefore reminds Armand that they do not know of her past.  He does this, as he is afraid of future troubles that may be caused by this for his daughter as they live in a society where titles are of a high importance, and if she were to be of mixed race, Armand may reject her.  This is an ominous sign within the book, foreshadowing the pain that Desiree suffers.  The manner, in which Armand’s love for Desiree is perceived, is an indication of the pain that he will cause for her.  “The passion that awoke in him that day, when he saw her at the gate, swept along like an avalanche, or like a prairie fire, or like anything that drives headlong over all obstacles”, his love is associated with destruction, showing that Desiree will be hurt by his love.  These similes are harsh and strong, to represent and personify his intense and over dramatic love.

Although Armand claims that he loves Desiree, he soon rejects her when signs appear that she may be mixed race.  “One of La Blanche’s little quadroon boys-half naked too” is when Desiree realises that he baby is mixed race.  The similarities between the “quadroon boy” and her child are also realised by Armand, “It means,’ he answered lightly, ‘that the child is not white; it means that you are not white” he answers very coldly, his tone of voice is very controlled and inhuman, which is an attempt to distance himself from Desiree.  However Armand’s actions towards Desiree are full of irony “Look at my hand: whiter than yours, Armand,’ she laughed hysterically” as he is the one who is of mixed race, but he is blind to see that he is darker.  This is how Desiree did not realise so soon that her own baby was “dark”, as she loves the child no matter what it looks like.  “Desiree was miserable enough to die” emphasises Armand’s great power as he even has control over his wife’s emotions, this also foreshadows Desiree’s short-lived future.  The birth of the child had at first “softened Armand Aubigny’s imperious and exacting nature greatly”, but now he saw his child as a different race “the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his dealings with the slaves.”  The alliteration within this sentence quickens the pace to represent Armand’s eccentric temperament, and how his emotions for Desiree were never real for if they were he would have loved her and the baby no matter if they were mixed race.  The use of the figure “Satan” personifies Armand’s feelings of evil and hatred towards the two most important and most loved people within his life.

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Desiree has been discarded by Armand, and so turns to her mother “Armand has told me that 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.”  Her desperation for her mother’s love and help shows that she does not receive any affection or comfort from Armand.  “I cannot be so unhappy and live” is prophetic of Desiree’s final actions, “She disappeared among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the banks of the deep, sluggish ...

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