The Irregular Beats of a Heart in Love

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"The heart has its reasons, Where of reason knows nothing" -Pascal. Kate Chopin’s tragic tale Désirée’s Baby takes place in an antebellum southern setting in Louisiana, and like any timeless story it involves love and deception. There are many different expressions of love found in this story; there is unconditional love, superficial love, and love dependency. The emotion of love varies upon the fulfillment and motives of an individual as is seen by the main characters in this story. Monsieur and Madame Valmondé took in orphan Desiree and instantly and eternally cared for her as if she were their own child. "My own Désirée: Come home to Valmondé; back to your mother who loves you, Come with your child (25)." Even though Desiree’s child was a fraction African American and was socially unaccepted by the aristocrats and plantation owners in their society, Madam Valmondé’s compassion outweighed her pride/judgment and she beckoned them both come back to her safe, loving embrace. To unconditionally love someone you must forever be forgiving and supportive and Madam proves just that. In Madam Valmondé eye’s, “ Désirée had been sent to her by a beneficent Providence to be the child of her affection. For the girl grew to be beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere, - the idol of Valmondé (23).” The only issue with the Valmondés positive upbringing of Desiree is that they enabled her to be accustomed to affection and attention, which is what later led to Desiree’s love dependency for Armand. Armand’s changed personable demeanor from his excitement of their marriage and new child, “was what made the gentle Désirée so happy, for she loved him desperately” (24). Armand’s happiness brought her great joy, “when he frowned she trembled, but loved him. When he smiled, she asked no greater blessing of God” (24). The downfall of her complete devotion to this man was that
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