ABSTRACT:The short story “Regret,” written by American woman writer Kate Chopin, tells the story of Mamzelle Aurelie, a woman who is nearly fifty but still single, having never thought of marriage and love, gradually changes her attitude towards her marriage situation during the process when she is asked to take care of her neighbor’s children. This thesis tries to analyze the Aurelie’s ideas and attitude towards marriage before and after helping look after those children and explore Kate Chopin’s view on marriage in order than it could be helpful when the phenomenon is considered concerning the elder “single women” existence in our time including how to construct the more harmonious family and society. 

Key words: Kate Chopin; “Regret”; View of marriage; Mamzelle Aurelie

CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

中文摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 The Family Background Kate Chopin Lived-1

1.2 The Social Background Kate Chopin Lived-2

1.3 The Significance of the Thesis-3

Chapter Two KATE CHOPIN’S MAIN WORKS-4

2.1 Kate Chopin’s Main Works about Women-4

2.2 Literature Review-6

Chapter Three CHOPIN’S VIEW OF MARRIAGE IN “REGRET”-8

3.1 A Brief Introduction of “Regret”-8

3.2 Mamzelle Aurelie’s Attitude on Marriage-9

3.3 Kate Chopin’s View of Marriage-10

3.4 The Meaning for Single Women-11

Chapter Four CONCLUSION-12

WORKS CITED-14