Question

How did Désirée become part of the Valmondé family in Kate Chopin's "Desiree's Baby"?

1) She was discovered sleeping in the gateway of the Valmondé home.
2) She came to live with the Valmondés after her mother died.
3) She was adopted from an orphanage in New Orleans.
4) She was a slave whom Madame Valmondé freed and adopted.

Answer 1

Désirée became part of the Valmondé family because she was discovered sleeping in the gateway of the Valmondé home.Thus the option 1) She was discovered sleeping in the gateway of the Valmondé home is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Kate Chopin's "Desiree's Baby," the narrative reveals that Madame Valmondé discovered Désirée as a baby, sleeping in the gateway of the Valmondé home. The circumstances of her arrival remain mysterious, as Désirée's origins are unknown.

Madame Valmondé takes her in and raises her as her own, embracing her as a beloved daughter. The story does not provide details about Désirée's biological parents or the reason for her presence in the gateway, adding an element of intrigue to her background.

Désirée grows up as a member of the Valmondé family, and her adoption into the household shapes her identity and relationships. The Valmondés, particularly Madame Valmondé, provide her with care and affection.

This familial connection becomes crucial to the unfolding events in the narrative, including Désirée's marriage to Armand Aubigny and the eventual revelation about her heritage. The discovery of Désirée in the gateway serves as the starting point for the complex and tragic events that follow, making it a pivotal moment in the story.

Thus the option 1) She was discovered sleeping in the gateway of the Valmondé home is correct.