As a young wife, Desiree exerts a peaceful and tranquil influence on the hard-hearted Armand, which induces his mean spirit to exert a gentle understanding hand with his slaves instead of a punishing and severe hand so as to escape being what he later becomes when Desiree's influence is lost to him: "the very spirit of Satan." As a young mother, she is overjoyed with her infant and even more overjoyed to see the pride and joy the infant's father experiences. She reaches a level of happiness that almost frightens her when she realizes the change the infant's presence brings in Armand's feelings and behavior: