Conflicts in a relationship or marriage are always caused by differences between women and men. This is true as the society has always viewed men as superior to women. Kate Chopin short story, Desiree’s baby, clearly illustrates how men dominate in a relationship as compared to women. In this story, Desiree is submissively being ruled by her husband Armand who regards her as his own possession. This shows that there exists a slave relationship between women and men.
Armand feels that because he holds a high social position than Desiree he is free to be her master. Desiree is not new to Armands thought as she knows she is inferior to Armand. The fact that they are both aware of this, it strengthens the slave relationship between men and women. It is not until Armand believed that Desiree was black and thus he was superior to her that Armand fully dominates her. The story points out that “when he spoke to her, it was with averted eyes, from which the old love-love light seemed to have gone” (Chopin, & Kinlow, 1993). Armand feels too superior to even give his full attention to Desiree. Desiree feels like she has been pushed to a position where she is a slave in the relationship. This is because, at this point, Armand does not express his love for her. She even feels miserable enough to even die. Desiree depends so much on Armand just like a slave does to a master. The unconditional love she has for him despite her inferior position in that relationship confirms how she is truly dependent on him. The fact that she derives her happiness through pleasing Armand shows that she is not only his slave but it’s her fault that she is in that position in the first place.
References
Chopin, K., & Kinlow, J. (1993). Desiree’s Baby (pp. 402-07). Sound Room Publishers.
