Desiree's Baby

Armand, the wealthy creole, banishes Desiree (his wife) and her baby from his estate because of the shame she brought to his name. This shame has only to do with one thing. Race. Because Desiree's origins are unknown to him, he assumes she is part black when he sees that their baby has the skin tint to be black. In a time period where slavery was rampant and miscegenation was rare, Armand wanted nothing to do with anyone who was disgracing the family name, because they were part black.

In the end of the story it is revealed through a letter from Armand's mother to his father that Armand is actually the one who is half black, and his mother "belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery". I like to call this justified irony, because he thought he was ridding himself of this shame that no men should ever be ashamed for, but he really just lost his wife, lost his kid, and destroyed his self-image. In essence, he destroyed his own life when he thought he was saving it.