Summary
The story opens with Madame Valmondé traveling to visit Desiree and her baby, while reflecting on how Desiree and Armand (her husband) came to be married - and how Desiree is actually an adopted (but quite beloved) child of her and her husband. Desiree eventually grew to be beautiful, kind, and affectionate. In the flashback, Chopin provides an insight into the speed with which Armand chooses to marry Desiree, not really caring about her background, despite Monsieur Valmondé's insistence to the contrary. Oddly enough, Armand had been visiting the Valmondés since he was a little boy with his father (moving from Paris), after his mother had died when he was only eight years old.
“Monsieur Valmondé grew practical and wanted things well considered: that is, the girl’s obscure origin. Armand looked into her eyes and did not care. He was reminded that she was nameless. What did it matter about a name when he could give her one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana? He ordered the corbeille from Paris, and contained himself with what patience he could until it arrived; then they were married.”
Analysis
This passage is representative of the narrative style of the story as a whole: a third-person perspective, which is at times omniscient, and at other times it seems as if the narrator is just as oblivious as to what might happen next as the reader. Nonetheless, the reader receives the impression that the story is told as an omniscient, all-knowing narrative. Armand’s carefree and passionate behavior sets the stage for later conflict. It immediately inaugurates a source of tension, and because of its nature as a short story, Chopin seems eager to catch the attention of the reader with what seems to be a typical trope among wealthy men: arrogance and a summary dismissal of anything that would cause them inconvenience in their attempt to achieve their goals – in this case, marrying an attractive, young woman.
The bias of the narrator towards Valmondé comes out through the words “well considered.” Like Valmondé, the narrator seems to think that Armand should temper his passions for Desiree and reflect upon factors other than her beauty, particularly the fact that even the Valmondés are unaware of Desiree’s origins. Though they are quite accepting of this fact, Armand, in all his haste, might not be. The narrator makes it clear that he prefers caution and prudence to alacrity and eagerness.
At the same time, the narrator is well aware (and makes it clear to the reader as well) of Armand’s reasoning for not looking too deeply into Desiree’s past. Regardless of whether Desiree has a respectable or well-known name, it is irrelevant because he will give his own name, which is among the “oldest and proudest” in Louisiana. Armand sees Desiree not only as an item to be obtained, but a blank slate, a clay figure, which he is able to mold in any which way he wants. There is no baggage attached to Desiree, and Armand sees this as completely acceptable. It gives him more authority and dominance over Desiree. After all, she does not belong (to the best of his knowledge) to a family that may pose any kind of objection to the way he treats her, or the fact that he wants to marry her so quickly.
The fact that Armand ordered a corbeille from Paris shows his commitment to nineteenth-century French marital tradition – despite the fact that he is American. Corbeille often acted as dowries of sorts, but given by the groom to his bride. Without the various items in the basket – which consisted of cashmere shawls, gloves, jewelry, and the like – a lady would not really have been considered married. The more lavish the basket, the more it reflected the wealth of the groom.
However the contents of the corebeille are not revealed until the very end, when Armand has them burned. They included silk gowns, laces, embroideries, bonnets, and gloves. This marks a stark transition in attitude regarding tradition from earlier in the story. He appears to have little to no concern for one of the most important symbols of a married woman in French culture. His emotions overpower him, and in what seems to be a desperate attempt to save face he breaks and destroys any trace or connection he had with Desiree.
