Mamzelle Aurelie is a strong, independent woman who has never found the need for a relationship or marriage. She has never been in love and doesn't regret declining the one marriage proposal she received when she was young. Aurelie possesses a shrewd business sense which has allowed her to be a successful farmer. Her only companion is her dog Ponto.
Masculinity vs. Femininity
Her character is one that embraces both masculine and feminine characteristics. Aurelie's manner of dress is masculine in nature, and, as far as she's concerned, comfortable.
She is described as wearing a "man's hat about the farm, and an old blue army overcoat when it was cold, and sometimes topboots." For her time, this type of dress is very unconventional. Of course, to be a female land owner and successful farmer was also avant-garde.
Aurelie's masculine characteristics eclipse her appearance and influence her life's path. She isn't exactly the epitome of a female in touch with her feminine side and maternal instincts. If anything, those are areas that she has ignored and allowed to remain dormant.
Bundles of Joy, Shattered Routine
The arrival of Odile and her four children shatters the peaceful routine that Aurelie has established for herself. She has no experience in dealing with children. When Odile asks her to look after her children for a few days, Odile abruptly leaves the children on the porch with Aurelie who "stood contemplating the children."
Their arrival at the farm is desribed as "to all intents and purposes, [the children] might have fallen from the clouds, so unexpected and bewildering was their coming, and so unwelcome." Such a characterization of their arrival is a foreshadowing and analogous to the adage that children are a gift from heaven.
Learning to Relate
Aurelie's approach to dealing with the children is influenced by her experiences on the farm. She has no concept of how to relate to the children to get them to understand what she wants them to do. "At night ... she ordered them ... to bed as she would have shooed the chickens into the hen-house, they stayed uncomprehending before her."
In a fit of frustration, Aurelie approaches her cook Aunt Ruby for advice and to vent. Ruby has had experience with children. The audience learns that she raised five children and buried six. She recognizes Aurelie's troubles and derives a bit of amusement from her observations. Ruby gives Aurelie some "mother-tricks" to "serve the moment's need."
Maternal Instincts
Aurelie quickly becomes accustomed to the "laughing, the crying" and the "chattering that echoed through the house." The children also force Aurelie to come to terms with the part of her that she thought she had lost.
Her maternal instincts re-emerge. She finds herself sewing and wearing an apron for the first time in years. Aurelie reads to one of the children at bedtime and rocks the other one to sleep.
At the end of two weeks, when Odile returns for her children Aurelie'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. Aurelie is extremely agitated by Odile's arrival and intentions of taking the children home.
Alone Again
With the abrupt arrival of the children, Aurelie was given a glimpse into that life which she chose to disregard. She decided long ago that she had no need to take that path. Aurelie was content alone and took every measure to maintain that stability. But this glimpse was enough to cast some doubt on that decision she made so long ago. An immense sense of regret consumes her.
After the children have gone, Aurelie takes time to survey her eerily quiet surroundings. The children had "left a sad disorder behind them," but Aurelie is in no hurry to correct the mess. It is a gentle reminder of the children's presence. She merely seats herself a the table and has a tremendous cry. It is Ponto who is at her side, licking her hand. But she doesn't even notice.
Aurelie quickly reverts back to her previous mannerisms. "She cried like a man, with sobs that seemed to tear her very soul." Her slight, feminine ways departed with the children. She no longer has a need to hold onto that which bonded with the children. It would only serve as a painful reminder.
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening and Selected Stories of Kate Chopin. New York: Signet Classic, 1976.
Jennifer M. Willhite - Autobiographical writing is not necessarily my forte, but let's give it a try. I graduated from IU Bloomington with B.A.s in English ...
