The nature of Armand’s love for Desiree in "Desiree's Baby" of Kate Chopin
...er (Monsieur Valmonde) wanted A. to reconsider his proposing to D. Armand (A.) did not truly love Desiree (D.) because when it became clear that her baby was black [1] he abandoned her; and, since then, Armand changed also his attitude toward his slaves. By abusing the slaves he strengthens his image as a white man. I wonder if he was aware of his own racial identity by that time. True love does not alter with circumstances, it is constant, doesn’t die, “it is an ever-fixed mark”, as Shakespeare said. The unknown circumstances that lead D. to produce a black child do not justify A’s behavior. Surprisingly, A. did not suspect unfaithfulness from D (since she had, for example, a skin whiter than his own). Maybe he chooses not to because calling D black makes him feel whiter. D notices that A’s had hardened his heart against the slaves and herself; but she only reacts sharply to A when he calls her “black”. D feels stigmatized by A, and ashamed of being considered black. Repl...