Back in October, Read Handed reviewed this short.  Of course, being the classics author lover that I am, I had to read it as well. 
It is a bit different than what I have read by Kate Chopin.  She usually deals with women’s rights and women’s issues, which this short had but it focused more on race relations and slavery more so.

Désirée was abandoned in Louisiana and adopted by the Valmondé .  No one knows anything about her biological parents.  She is adored and well taken care of.  Then she gets lucky in love and marries Armond, from one of the wealthiest families in town and he treats her like a queen.  He use to treat his slaves poorly but softens when their son is born.  He is a beautiful baby.

Then one day, out of the blue Armond changes again.  He is really mean to the slaves and doesn’t give Désirée the time of day, in fact he avoids her.  One day she finally notices that the baby’s features have changed.  She tracks Armond down to talk to him about it.  
“look at our child. What does it mean? tell me.”
He coldly but gently loosened her fingers from about his arm and thrust the hand away from him.
“Tell me what it means!” she cried despairingly.
“It means,” he answered lightly, “that the child is not white..”
Armond wants her to leave with the child so she goes back to her adopted mother but the story does not end here.  You will have to read it to find out what happens.
This is a well written piece by Kate Chopin that makes the reader think about race and slavery.  Highly recommended.  You can read it here.
 Short Story Monday is hosted by John at The Book Mine Set.

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