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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.

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A bit masculine in her choice of dressing.

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Never thought of marrying and did not regret her decision.

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Have a dog as a pet named Ponto, workers who grew her crops, fowls, cows, mules, gun and religion.

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Found her maternal instinct which was hidden safe within her after 50 years.

Odile: 

Aurlie’s neighbour.

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Her character is the opposite to Aurlie’s character. She’s a married woman with four children.

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Filial daughter: She leaves her children in Aurlie’s care because she needs to visit her ill mother.

Lodie: 

Chubby boy

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Could only sleep after being rocked and sung to

Ti Nomme: 

Rebellious

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Love flowers; shows interest in botanical

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Love bedtime stories

Marcline: 

Obedient

Marclette: 

Wept when spoken to in loud and commanding voice

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Always speak in a loud and commanding tone of voice.

Aunt Ruby: 

Aurlie’s cook

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Very knowledgeable about kids

Writer’s Mood: 

Shows opinion about family and having children.

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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.