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Short story
Citation preview
Regret By Kate Chopin
Themes:
Masculinity and Femininity
Mamzelle Aurlie’s character embraces both masculine and feminine characteristics. Her way
of dressing is masculine in nature but it was comfortable enough for her. This can be proven
through paraghraph 1 line 3,
“She wore a man’s hat about the farm, and an old blue army overcoat when it is cold, and
sometimes top-boots.”
Mamzelle Aurlie’s masculine characteristics also influence her path of life. She wasn’t in
touch with her feminine side, left alone maternal instincts.
Maternal Instincts
Aurlie’s maternal instincts emerge when Odile – her nearest neighbour, asks for Aurlie’s help
to take care of her children, she was contemplating. However, she soon finds herself sewing
and wearing aprons for the first time in years. She also reads to one of the children (Ti
Nomme) a bedtime story and rocks Lodie to sleep while singing lullaby.
At the end of two weeks, when Odile returns for her children, Aurlie's newly found routine is
abruptly halted. The chatter and laughter that she had grown accustomed to ceases. Odile's
return is just as unexpected and unannounced as her arrival. Aurlie is extremely agitated by
Odile's arrival and intentions of taking the children home.
When the children were gone, she turned into the house and cried alone.
Regret
Aurlie has lived a lonely life, and she thought she was happy with the life she had. Then,
these four children were thrown into her care - literally- and she began to truly live. For the
first time she began to realize all the joys and sadness that life brings. Then when the joy in
her life is taken away she realizes how empty her life is, and she regret that she didn't live
life to its fullest, regret that she didn't want that priceless joy in her life, and regret that she
was too old to try and find it.
Plot:
Exposition:
The short story began by introducing the main character of the story, Mamzelle Aurlie. The
author described her physical appearances and also explained Aurlie’s point of view about
marriage.
Rising action:
It started when Odile, Aurlie’s nearest neighbour, brought her total of four kids to meet
Aurlie. She asked Aurlie to took care of her children while she went away to visit her mother.
Climax:
Mamzelle Aurlie tried to relate to the children while Odile wasn’t around. She was having a
hard time to meet those children’s needs. She also seeks for Aunt Ruby – her cook, for
advice.
Falling action:
She found herself sewing and wearing apron, which shows her long-hidden femininity and
maternal instincts. Aurlie had grown quite used to the children’s behaviour and no longer
complained about having to do some stuff for the children.
Resolution:
Odile finally came back and brought her children back home. Aurlie’s surprisingly sad and
agitated about Odile’s unexpected arrival. After Odile and her children leave and finally is out
of sight, Aurlie turned into her house and cried alone.
Characters:
Mamzelle Aurlie:
Good strong figure, ruddy cheeks, brown turned gray hair and a determined eye.
A bit masculine in her choice of dressing.
Never thought of marrying and did not regret her decision.
Have a dog as a pet named Ponto, workers who grew her crops, fowls, cows, mules,
gun and religion.
Found her maternal instinct which was hidden safe within her after 50 years.
Odile:
Aurlie’s neighbour.
Her character is the opposite to Aurlie’s character. She’s a married woman with four
children.
Filial daughter: She leaves her children in Aurlie’s care because she needs to visit
her ill mother.
Lodie:
Chubby boy
Could only sleep after being rocked and sung to
Ti Nomme:
Rebellious
Love flowers; shows interest in botanical
Love bedtime stories
Marcline:
Obedient
Marclette:
Wept when spoken to in loud and commanding voice
Always speak in a loud and commanding tone of voice.
Aunt Ruby:
Aurlie’s cook
Very knowledgeable about kids
Writer’s Mood:
Shows opinion about family and having children.
Realistic
Writer’s Opinion:
The writer of the short story ‘Regret’, Kate Chopin seems like a feminist at the
beginning of the story. She mentioned that the main character, Mamzelle Aurlie is a fifty
years old woman who was never married and she never regrets her decision which was
made during her youth. The writer shows that female can live independently without man in
their life.
However, the writer shows change in perspective when she brought in the kids into
the main character’s life. Odile – Aurlie’s neighbour asked Aurlie to take care of her children
while she’s away to visit her mother. During those moment (while Aurlie’s taking care of the
children), the main character starts to regain her femininity and maternal instincts as she
grew closer to the kids.
Towards the end of the story, Odile came back unannounced, took her kids and bring
them home. Aurlie was a bit agitated and surprisingly sad when it happened. She turned into
her house and cried alone.
This story shows the changes in the writer’s opinion about marriage and having
children. People will change through experiences. The writer was a bit feminist at first but
she changed her point of view toward the end of the story.