Question

For the story :Desiree's Baby," What is the author’s most likely purpose for introducing the story through Madame

Valmonde’s point of view?

Answer 1

Kate Chopin likely uses Madame Valmonde's point of view in 'Desiree's Baby' to create emotional distance, build suspense, and subtly reveal societal attitudes towards race and gender roles during the era.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author, Kate Chopin, is likely to have introduced 'Desiree's Baby' through Madame Valmonde's point of view as a literary strategy for several reasons. Firstly, this perspective creates an initial emotional distance from the central characters, Desiree and Armand, which sets a stage for the readers to view the unfolding drama objectively. Secondly, it adds an element of suspense and builds the mystery around Desiree's baby, as Madame Valmonde's visit to see the child allows readers to speculate about what is so astonishing about the baby's appearance. Lastly, by using Madame Valmonde's perspective, Chopin is able to reveal the societal attitudes towards race and female roles in the Creole community subtly, mirroring the broader social issues of the time.

Answer 2

hope this helps

Step-by-step explanation:

What we see in this story are two extremes of kinship: Monsieur and Madame Valmondé very willingly take in Desiree as a baby who they knew nothing about. There were theories among the townspeople that she was left by a party of traveling Texans, but that did not seem to make a difference for the Valmondés. They took in Desiree as she was, and it was only when Armand took a fancy to her as a grownup that Monsieur Valmondé cautioned Armand to at least consider the background of Desiree. When Desiree realized what Armand thought about their child and about her racial background, she writes a heartfelt and urgent letter to Madame Valmondé. The Madame sends back a brief reply: "My own Desiree: Come home to Valmondé; back to your mother who loves you. Come with your child." It is more than evident that regardless of all that has happened - and from the tone of Valmondé's letter it seems that she knew something like this was going to happen - Valmondé very enthusiastically tells Desiree to come home. Moreover, she tells her to bring the baby as well.