Regret
by Kate Chopin
This story was first published in 1897 when it appeared in Chopin's short story collection A Night in Acadia.
Taken from her A Night in Acadie collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Chopin may be exploring the theme of loss or at least the sense of loss that Mamzelle Aurélie feels in her life having never had children to love and cherish. It is also interesting that Chopin never mentions to the reader whether Mamzelle Aurélie has any friends.
The theme of commitment is self-evident in the story, most noticeably by the fact that all of Mamzelle Aurélie’s attention is on her farm. If anything at the beginning she considers the children’s arrival to be a hindrance to her daily duties and tasks. Though the more she grows fond of the children, the more she is able to show them the same commitment that she had previously shown to her land. It is also interesting that she is reliant on Aunt Ruby to help her. The reader aware that it is Aunt Ruby who is the more experienced of the two women having had children herself. How fond Mamzelle Aurélie is of the children is also noticeable by the fact that she allows Elodie to sleep with her.
The ending of the story is also interesting as for the first time the reader gets to see just how affected Mamzelle Aurélie is by the children’s departure. Though she may not necessarily wish to admit it. Chopin by having Mamzelle Aurélie crying in the manner of a man is possibly suggesting or highlighting not only how deeply Mamzelle Aurélie feels about the children but she may also be highlighting the regret that Mamzelle Aurélie is feeling due to her never having had any children of her own.
Abror Faturohman
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