Regret

The motif of sensory experiences suggests the richness and depth of the emotional experiences enjoyed in love and community. At the beginning, Madame Aurélie operates with precision and a steely demeanor. Her “determined eye,” later her “critical eye,” allows her to meet her challenges with independence and efficiency. She seems to value her ability to comprehend whatever issues may be at hand swiftly and to solve them head on, with determination and practical knowledge.

However, during Madame Aurélie’s experience as a surrogate mother, sensory details mark her progress. The moment the children arrive, the sun is shining, “the white sunlight […] beating in on the white old boards” of the porch (242). Chickens scratch, one boldly strutting across the porch, and “[t]here was a pleasant odor of pinks in the air” (242). The sensory details, taken collectively, suggest that while the children’s arrival is an intrusion, it may not be an entirely unpleasant one. Then, as Madame Aurélie’s attachment to the children solidifies, the sensory details became even more tactile and exaggerated: there are “sticky fingers” and “moist kisses;” the sounds of the children; and the “hot, plump body” of the baby pressed to her, the child’s “warm breath” against her cheek. She is fully immersed in the emotional experiences of living within community. Finally, when the children leave, Madame Aurélie makes specific note of how the family moves beyond her senses. The cart pulls out of sight, its wheels beyond her hearing.