Regret

by Kate Chopin

When Mademoiselle Aurelie's neighbour appears and asks her to take care of her four children in an emergency, she accepts the challenge very reluctantly. Mademoiselle Aurelie knows nothing about children and cares even less for them. But over the following weeks, the children become a part of her life...until the day when their mother reappears to reclaim them.

Genres: Short Stories, Classics, Fiction, 19th Century, Female Authors, American, English Literature

Audible Audio

First published August 13, 1894

About the author

Kate Chopin was an American author whose fiction grew out of the complex cultures and contradictions of Louisiana life, and she gradually became one of the most distinctive voices in nineteenth century literature. Raised in a household shaped by strong women of French and Irish heritage, she developed an early love for books and storytelling, and that immersion in language later shaped the quiet precision of her prose. After marrying and moving to New Orleans, then later to the small community of Cloutierville, she absorbed the rhythms, customs, and tensions of Creole and Cajun society, finding in its people the material that would feed both her sympathy and her sharp observational eye. When personal loss left her searching for direction, she began writing with the encouragement of a family friend, discovering not only a therapeutic outlet but a genuine vocation. Within a few years, her stories appeared in major magazines such as The Atlantic Monthly, Vogue, and The Century, where readers encountered her local-color sketches, her portrayals of women navigating desire and constraint, and her nuanced depictions of life in the American South. She published two story collections, Bayou Folk and A Night in Acadie, introducing characters whose emotional lives were depicted with unusual honesty. Her short fiction often explored subjects others avoided, including interracial relationships, female autonomy, and the quiet but powerful inner conflicts of everyday people. That same unflinching quality shaped The Awakening, the novel that would later become her most celebrated work. At the time of its publication, however, its frank treatment of a married woman’s emotional and sensual awakening unsettled many critics, who judged it harshly, yet Chopin continued to write stories that revealed her commitment to portraying women as fully human, with desires and ambitions that stretched beyond the confines of convention. She admired the psychological clarity of Guy de Maupassant, but she pushed beyond his influence to craft a voice that was unmistakably her own, direct yet lyrical, and deeply attuned to the inner lives of her characters. Though some of her contemporaries viewed her themes as daring or even improper, others recognized her narrative skill, and within a decade of her passing she was already being described as a writer of remarkable talent. Her rediscovery in the twentieth century led readers to appreciate how modern her concerns truly were: the struggle for selfhood, the tension between social expectations and private longing, and the resilience of women seeking lives that felt authentically theirs. Today, her stories and novels are widely read, admired for their clarity, emotional intelligence, and the boldness with which they illuminate the complexities of human experience.

Reviews

[Shaghayegh · Rating 3 out of 5]

یه حرکت شقایق‌پسندی که تو قلم نویسنده‌ها میبینم همین تناقضی به شمار میره که آدمی داره. اینکه در عین حال میتونه راضی و ناراضی از انتخاباتش باشه. یه مدت درست تلقی کنه و بعدش نادرست. یه عمر با لذت به راه رفته نگاه کنه و ناگهان رنجور به زندگی نزیسته زل بزنه. آگاهی به درهم‌آمیختگی ذهنیات و احساسات آدمیزاد و نشون دادنش تو اثر برام خوشاینده. چون خالق میدونه که با چجور جونوری داره دست و پنجه نرم میکنه و از زوایای مختلف بهش می‌پردازه.
کیت شوپن تو این داستان زنی رو خلق کرده که با پنجاه سال سن نه عشق رو چشیده و نه تن به ازدواج داده. زن مستقلی که با خصوصیات مردانه تلقیش میکنه و حتی پوشش بزرگوار هم رگه‌ای از جنگ داخلی داره. دنیاش به خونه، خدمتکار، حیوون‌ها و باغش ختم شده و حتی میشه گفت با اشیاء روابط بهتری تا انسان داره. روزی همسایه ازش درخواست میکنه که یه مدت بچه‌هاش رو نگه داره تا بتونه به مادر مریضش سر بزنه. اون هم دست رد به سینه نمیزنه ولی از پس فسقل‌ها برمیاد؟ اون‌ها جک و جونورهاش نیستن و به رسیدگی انسان‌گونه نیاز دارن.
نویسنده تو این داستان کوتاه لحن شخصیت‌ها هم حفظ میکنه. به طوری‌که کم‌سواد و دورگه بودن شخصیت نمایانه:

"It's no question, Mamzelle Aurelie; you jus' got to keep those youngsters fo' me tell I come back. Dieu sait , I wouldn' botha you with 'em if it was any otha way to do! Make 'em mine you, Mamzelle Aurelie; don' spare 'em. Me, there, I'm half crazy between the chil'ren, an' Leon not home, an' maybe not even to fine po' maman alive encore!"

از طرفی هم به محیط اهمیت میده. جوری که با احوالات شخصیت هماهنگن و این ریزجزئیات برای من در عین سادگی، زیبا محسوب میشن:

the red sunset and the blue-gray twilight had together flung a purple mist across the fields and road that hid it from her view.

در نهایت از دلارا متشکرم که با انتخابات و معرفی هوشمندانه‌ش، تجربه‌ی همخوانی رو دوچندان کرد.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is replete with symbolism and hidden meaning, lurking in the details of Chopin's descriptions.

Aurélie, a fifty year old unmarried woman, living alone other than her servants, finds herself suddenly in possession of her neighbor's four children when the neighbor is called away to tend her dying mother. The title of this story says everything about the realization Aurélie comes to by the end of the tale.

I have read many of Chopin's stories and short fictions. I love her writing style and wit. When the children are left with Aurélie, this is one of the lines I loved.

But little children are not little pigs: they require and demand attentions which were wholly unexpected by Mamzelle Aurlie, and which she was ill prepared to give.

If you have never had children and find yourself in possession of someone else's, this line might well hold a great deal of meaning for you.

The story can be read HERE

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It took her some days to become accustomed to the laughing, the crying, the chattering that echoed through the house and around it all day long. And it was not the first or the second night that she could sleep comfortably with little Elodie’s hot, plump body pressed close against her, and the little one’s warm breath beating her cheek like the fanning of a bird’s wing.”

Chopin is so good at women’s emotions. There are some regrets we don’t realize until it’s too late. A perfect example of why “show don’t tell” is an oft repeated admonishment regarding writing. Chopin shows us how to show here, in this very impactful little story.

[Ahmed Ejaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

<< 4.75 STARS >>

I am feeling very emotional after reading this ** I have no adjectives to describe this story. I hardly kept my tears from falling.

*EMOTIONAL OVERVIEW
This emotional story is about a lady who has not thought of marrying ever! Life offers her a chance but she doesn't accept that. One day, her neighbor receives the news of her mother illness. She has not any option to leave her children with this lady as her husband works in another city. Lady accepts her request.
Initially, she hasn't an idea of baby-sitting. As time passes, she gets an idea of that.

If you read my previous reviews, you will know that I give the idea of ending of almost every story.
BUT
I will not give you the idea of ending in this review because I can't give it emotions which author has given it.


*THINGS I LIKED
- The title, it has been chosen very well for this story.
- The moral, which was very positive.
- The ending. Protagonist deserves that.
- Protagonist was written very well.
- Author's writing style was awesome except one thing (I will tell you in next section).
- Setting was good for this story.
- Children! I love them.


*THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
As you have guessed, I like the whole story but "everything is not for everyone". Yeah! that's right, isn't it?
- I didn't like the dialogues that's because they were in French (I think)
for example:

"It's no question, Mamzelle Aurlie(protagonist's name); you jus' got to keep those youngsters fo' me tell I come back. Dieu sait, I wouldn' botha you with 'em if it was any otha way to do! Make 'em mine you, Mamzelle Aurlie; don' spare 'em. Me, there, I'm half crazy between the chil'ren, an' Lon not home, an' maybe not even to fine po' maman alive encore!"

- Again! 3rd person POV. I wanted to know about the protagonist's inner feelings. It was ruined because of this POV.
- Character's names: I liked the character's behavior but I didn't like their names (I don't know why).
e.g: MAMZELLE AURLIE, Lodie etc...

*RECOMMENDATION
I highly recommend this short story to females because in this story the main focus is females. That doesn't mean males should not read it, it's also perfect for them.


*FINAL THOUGHTS
I liked the entire story with the "things I didn't like". Then the question rises why I mentioned those?
Frankly speaking, I didn't want to mention those BUT in my opinion, that's not fair to mention things which you love the most and fill the entire review with this. I don't admit that every man-made thing is perfect. So, to keep the balance I mentioned those.


I hope you like my review, If you don't then point out my mistakes. I would be happy to see that!

Thanks for your attention!


*WHERE TO READ THIS STORY?
If you are interested in this story (I think, you are) just click the link given below and happy reading!
CLICK ME!

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mamzelle Aurélie had never thought of marrying. She had never been in love. At the age of twenty she had received a proposal, which she had promptly declined, and at the age of fifty she had not yet lived to regret it.

Is it possible to regret something you have never known? I don't believe so. Regret can only come from the loss of something held dear. Before the children, Mamzelle Aurélie didn't think about loneliness. Without the children, she faces loneliness. This sad tale is only three pages. It takes only a few minutes to read. It is certainly worth a few minutes.

[Sadia Mansoor · Rating 3 out of 5]

How we always regret for things & moments when the time has already passed! :/
Its better to achieve and try everything in life, rather than feeling sorry for it later for not even getting it for once! We all have desires & goals for a perfect life, and not every person gets the same happiness & contentment in life sadly.. :(
We think we are happy outwardly but inwardly we all know very well that what we have missed & what we have gained!

[a · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the beginning of the story, Mamzelle Aurélie is described as a manly figure. She manages her farm by herself, has no husband and children, and is entirely independent. It changed when a young woman requested Mamzelle Aurélie to take care of her children. The latter takes on the challenge and the story described the hardships of taking care of those children. When the young woman takes her children back, Mamzelle Aurélie cried, but not like a woman. She cried like a man with only Ponto by her side.

I noticed in the beginning, when she did not know about the children, she was tough and independent but when the children came, she became lovable and showered the children with attention. She tried so hard to be a good mother to them, gave them what they needed, and absentmindedly loved them. When the children left, she was devastated and she returned to her former self, like a man. The children changed Mamzelle Aurélie.

While I was reading I thought of children leaving their parents when they grow up. Although the children are not Mamzelle Aurélie's, you will think that her reaction of them leaving her is close to what our parents will feel if ever we leave them. It is sad to think that our parents invested so much in us but most of us plan to leave them when we become independent enough to take care of ourselves. I remember my mother saying that she does not want to be alone when she gets older and I think that is what every parent feels. In the eyes of our parents, we will always be a part of their lives, and I hope we will always make them a part of our lives too.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Chopin's short story Regret is available to listen to on youtube (Unfortunately the video I chose, had all of the French names are mispronounced, horrendously.)

This is a story that presents the question: Is it possible to regret something that you have never known? Our main character, is Mamzelle Aurélie, a woman who never married, and has never been in love. She declined the only man who ever proposed. Unfortunately in the last moments she is seemingly regretting her choice. This was a woman who needed to read Frosts poem, The Road Not Taken.

[K. Anna Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have arranged my thoughts into a haiku:

"Assured contentment,
Nigh relished separateness,
Lost. Gone. Just a peek."

[Jessica Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have I mentioned that I love Kate Chopin today? Why yes, yes I think I have.

Her short stories are just delightful in so many ways.

Read her. Love her. Emulate her.

[Jayme Horne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light spoilers below:

I love the nuances of this short story. The way our protagonist never once regretted not marrying and from what we can still tell by the end of the story, she still feels no desire to marry. But she cry once the children she was watching are gone. But why? Did she simply miss the children? Did she realize being alone was not great as she had thought? Did she regret never having kids of her own? I love the questions this brings up.

I love how Chopin explores regret in her works. Reading this shortly after reading A Story of an Hour made for a great follow up.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very beautiful but very sad. I really like Kate Chopin's work. This story had an amazing theme to it. Women want to be independent and free of any man but deep down they still want to be the total stereotype of a woman. It was amazing.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great reminder to appreciate my constant chaos.

[Anjali · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely story told in so few words. This short yet profound piece captures the life of a solitary woman in her late adulthood, who suddenly confronts the depth of her loneliness after an unexpected, bizarre, two-week visit from her neighbours’ four children. Light and funny at first, but quietly heartbreaking by the end.
This is one of those stories that reminds us how human warmth can fill a space and how its absence echoes even louder. I loved it.

"Mamzelle Aurélie stood contemplating the children......But little children are not little pigs; they require and demand attentions which were wholly unexpected by Mamzelle Aurélie, and which she was ill prepared to give........

At night, when she ordered them one and all to bed as she would have shooed the chickens into the hen-house, they stayed uncomprehending before her..........

It took her some days to become accustomed to the laughing, the crying, the chattering that echoed through the house and around it all day long. But at the end of two weeks, Mamzelle Aurélie had grown quite used to these things, and she no longer complained...........

The excitement was all over, and they were gone. How still it was when they were gone! ......

She gave one slow glance through the room, into which the evening shadows were creeping and deepening around her solitary figure. She let her head fall down upon her bended arm, and began to cry. Oh, but she cried! Not softly, as women often do. She cried like a man, with sobs that seemed to tear her very soul."

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 stars.
Listened to this with an audiobook while cleaning up my island in animal crossing...

Was expecting this one to be a bit more hard-hitting than it actually was considering the subject, but alas it wasn't. Didn't really feel for the main character because I didn't know her well enough. As expected for a story of only a couple pages...

[bambi · Rating 4 out of 5]

bu kadin benim annem.

[Austin Bartel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this story very much. I couldn't understand what the characters were talking about. I'm more into science-fiction books and not books that take place hundreds of years ago.
PLOT
Mamzelle Aurlie's neighbor's husband is sick and she has to go take care of him, so she leaves her four kids with Mamzelle. At first Mamzelle doesn't want to take care of the kids but she agrees to anyway. The kids are annoying at first, but then shen grows accustomed to their presence. When the neighbor comes to pick up her kids Mamzelle is upset and when they are gone she starts crying.
RECOMMENDED AUDIENCE
I would recommend this book to adults because of the dialogue. It is very hard to understand because it is old southern, around the civil war era.

[Britt Halliburton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good short story, though not the best work of Chopin by a long shot. Yet, there is a strong emotional energy to this, especially the description at the end, that anyone with any sort of attachment to children will empathise with and consider your existence without them. The title, regret, is not used lightly; this isn't you regretting that you chose option A or B, but rather that you are unable to ever go back to change your option, after experiencing what the other might have held for you.

[Yara Hatem · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an okay story, but it lacked what made short stories great. That quickness in getting you in connection with the character, which is why I read short stories in the first place, finding that thin connection.

I could tell you a story anytime and about anything but it won't stick with you unless it makes you feel something, and this one didn't.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sad story about a woman who having made one choice, had a glimpse of what could've been. And she sobbed like a man. I think the story is well told. But frankly did not capture my imagination. I liked the writing. 3 stars.

[Hannah Flayhart · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting short story, but definitely not the bestsellers that has come from Chopin. It was a bit slow and I could not lose myself in the story. I would recommend it to those that enjoy Chopin, but not to those looking for a very good story.

[Ann T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I hate to see women with regret for choices that made and cannot undo. I cried with Mamzelle Aurlie at the end. One thing that brought me solace is to know that Mamzelle Aurlie could easily be in these children's lives as an adopted auntie.

[رغْدُ العَيْش · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you feel when you look back on your life? What are the things that you could have done differently? Remember Mitch Albom? Tuesdays with Morrie? Remember these lines? “We’re so wrapped up with egotistical things, career, family, having enough money, meeting the mortgage, getting a new car, fixing the radiator when it breaks—we’re involved in trillions of little acts just to keep going. So we don’t get into the habit of standing back and looking at our lives and saying, Is this all? Is this all I want? Is something missing?”…. It is this deep sense of regret that permeates the plot of this story. The protagonist grasps that few noteworthy life-choices made by her has made all the difference to her. Her ‘Road Not Taken’ has led her to a despondent realization. Once more, the theme is so very evocative of a portion quoted in the hypnotic novel ‘In a Strange Room’ by Damon Galgut … It says : “If I had done this, if I had said that, in the end you are always more tormented by what you didn't do than what you did, actions already performed can always be rationalized in time, the neglected deed might have changed the world….”

Please read this very small story. Make your own conclusions.

[Neoralisa Medrano · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5.

Things I like:

- The descriptions and the tone of narration, it was good and easy to read.
- The plot was very interesting too.
- The children were funny little buddies to be around.

Things I dislike:

- The dialogues were so difficult to understand for me. I have notice I have this big problem with eye-dialogue, I can't grasp it most of the time, and is very hard to decipher what certain words mean, so I get trapped thinking about them till I can understand the whole meaning. I get is a way to give color to the character without saying directly, but it is kind of annoying sometimes.

- The ending was bittersweet, because I think the author shouldn't make her FMC to change her perspective that way. The amount of time she spend with the children did not make believable this change of heart.

[Amit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now here's come the regret...

I loved it. From other short story by Kate Chopin this one caught me off guard. How we regret thing that later come back to us in unnatural way that we could imagine. As Mademoiselle Aurelie never get married and thought she would live like this forever and better make of it; it was then she find the joy of happiness when her neighbor bring her 4 little kids for babysitting few days! & yes she finally understood what in life she was really missing. The ending was so emotional. The regret was there finally...

Favorite and rating it - 5 out of 5 stars...

[April Helms · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-told story, although the ending might not sit well in today's world (personally, I think it can be read a couple different ways). Here, a single, middle-aged woman finds herself reluctantly watching the children for a frantic neighboring mother, who must travel for a family emergency. At first the woman struggles, then adapts, then even begins to enjoy spending time with her charges. When the mother returns, the woman barely has time to register her feelings before the children go back home.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It gets me so emotional; although it is very expected, I have read many like it, but it is one of the first, if not the first, and it is very real and has a dimension of regret itself. Sometimes, contact with something, even if you are sure you do not want or are ready for it, makes you regret that you did not try it. Regret is deceptive, and the dilemma is that you will not know what you miss until you miss it.


Sometimes when you do not get a glimpse it's better, it's easier, but when you do you can't ever go back to the way you were before

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tale is surprising in its simplicity, as well as in its quick denouement. Our feminist author writes Mamzelle Aurlie, the characteristic old maid, into "regret" of never marrying, never having children, never becoming the domestic woman that a man might say she "should" have been. Yet this is the ending that confuses me. Could that be Chopin's intent? I think not.

[Lavalle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story reminds us that you can not miss something you never had. Also that things we thought we never wanted can come into our lives and grow on us. I'm always entranced by Kate Chopin's work it's incredible how a book/story can change your perception of things, a legendary woman.