When Desiree arrives at Mallard readers know nothing of her character until people start to question who Jude was. When someone suggested that Desiree adopted Jude that idea was immediately shut down because,"She was a selfish girl. If they remembered anything about Desiree, it was that and most didn't recall much more"(Bennett 4). The fact that the thing that most people can recall about Desiree is how selfish she is shows how she treated those around her and how she affected them.
"Leaving was the only thing she could offer... maybe staying wasn't the worst thing for Jude"(Bennett 106).