Tuesday, April 14, 2015

I am looking for a short story by William Faulkner about a baby's race that is questioned by the father and the mother commits suicide in a swamp.

The story that you are looking for is "Desiree's Baby," by author Kate Chopin whose main character's background and racial heritage is not known.



"Désirée is the adopted daughter of the Valmonde family. Madame and Monsieur Valmonde have raised Désirée since she was a toddler when they found her by the plantation's front gate. Despite the fact that her ancestry is unknown."



After Desiree marries a white plantation owner, she is very happy, they have a son.  As the baby grows he starts to exhibit African ancestry, since Desiree does not know her background, she believes it comes from her side.



 Armand says that clearly the child is not white and that therefore she is not white. Désirée denies this charge. In despair, Désirée writes to her mother for an explanation.



Of course Desiree's mother cannot give her daughter proof of her heritage, she was adopted from unknown origins. Desiree, who can't bear that her husband is so angry at her and will not love his son does not go to the home of her parents, but



"Instead of walking to the road that will take her home, Désirée walks across the fields and into the bayou (Swamp). She and her baby are never seen again." 



Go to the links below, the second one is a Kate Chopin site and offers a link to read the story online.


Good Luck

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