Desiree's Baby is a short story by Kate Chopin, first published in 1893. It tells the story of Desiree, a young woman of French Creole descent who is adopted as a baby and raised by a wealthy Louisiana family. When Desiree is a young woman, she falls in love with and marries Armand Aubigny, a wealthy plantation owner. They have a son, but soon after his birth, Armand begins to treat Desiree coldly and with suspicion. He eventually reveals to her that he believes their son is of mixed race, and that he believes Desiree is the one responsible. Desperate to prove her innocence, Desiree discovers a letter from her mother that reveals her true parentage. She is the daughter of a quadroon, a person of mixed African and European descent, and her father is unknown. Desiree and her son flee the plantation, and Armand is left to ponder his own racial identity. The story ends with Desiree and her son living in obscurity, but with a newfound sense of freedom.
By Kate Chopin · First published 1899 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction