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The Storm by Kate Chopin: An Analytic­al Essay on Adultery

769 Words / ~2½ pages sternsternsternsternstern_0.25 Author Michel S. in Jul. 2012
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Georgia Perimeter College Atlanta Ga.

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2012, Ms. Demass, Literature

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The Storm by Kate Chopin: An Analytical Essay on Adultery

Sam

Ms. Demarco

ENGL 1102-027

8 July 2012

The Storm


            The Storm is a short story written by Kate Chopin. By definition a storm is a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow. It’s safe to say that in Chopin’s short story “The Storm” that definition describes the story perfectly.

Chopin story depicts a passionless marriage that was over taken by lust on a stormy summer day. The story depicts an adulterous relationship that two former lovers, Calixta and Alcee Laballiere have during a tremendous thunderstorm. When Alcee must take shelter in Calixta’s house during an oncoming storm the two former friends make love.

As the storm grows stronger so does their passion.

            The story starts off with Bobinot and his son Bibi at Friedhiemer’s store. Bobinot and Bibi sit on two empty kegs in the front of the store to wait out a storm that is approaching. While sitting there Bibi shows concerns for his mother’s safety and Bobinot ensures him that his mother Calixta will be fine.

At home Calixta is working so furiously on the sewing machine she doesn’t notice the oncoming storm until it gets dark and gloomy. Calixta then goes outside to bring in her husband’s Bobinot church clothes inside from where she has then hanging out to dry. While out there Alcee Laballiere approaches the house and ask can he take shelter inside her house during the storm.

As soon as Alcee approached the house you can tell there was chemistry between the two. Chopin wrote “His voice and her own startled her as if from a trance” showing that Calixta still had feelings for Alcee.

The whole mood of the story changed when Alcee entered into it, it went from a laidback feeling to an intense mood. Once inside Calixta seals up the house so rain can’t get in the house and Alcee helps. Calixta starts to pick up the cotton sheeting she was sewing to keep her mind off Alcee.

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She feels herself succumbing to temptation and retreats form Alcee’s embrace, “Bonté!" she cried, releasing herself from his encircling arm and retreating from the window the house'll go next!” Alcee then goes to comfort Calixta and ensures her that the house will be safe.

During their embrace the passion between the two, they had no choice but to kiss. Alcee then asks Calixta if she remembers Assumption, which makes it clear that the two had a past together and some unresolved lingering feelings for each other.  The two then give into their temptations and make love.

As they make love the storm grows right along with their passion.  

Once their adulterous relationship is over the rain stops and the sun comes out. The rain stopping symbolizes the friend’s love affair ending as well. Alcee and Calixta are refreshed after their “storm” similar to the town after the thunderstorm, “The rain was over; and the sun was turning the glistening green world into a palace of gems”.

The two lovers Alcee and Calixta happily go their separate ways. Calixta acts if things are normal when her husband Bobinot and son Bibi arrives home. She shows no remorse for cheating on her husband. Calixta instead acts surprisingly cheerful. When Alcee got home he wrote a letter to his wife who was away from home visiting friends.

Chopin ends the story by saying “so the storm passed and everyone was happy”. Chopin’s message for the story seems to be that adultery is not always bad but sometimes needed. Bobinot seemed as to be a good man but lacked passion which Calixta needed.

She was so indulged in being a wife and mother she lacked love. The affair brought joy backs to their lives and marriages which it lacked. Alcee brought Calixta passion like the kiss of a storm on nature’s blossom. Chopin portrayed martial problems perfectly in this story giving us a vivid portrayal of the “perfect storm”.



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