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Kate Chopin 's The Storm

Decent Essays

Written in a time when a woman’s sexual desires were considered unimportant and inappropriate, Kate Chopin writes a story portraying a married woman in the 1890’s who involves herself in an adulterous relationship with her former lover, Alcee. In “The Storm,” Chopin refrains from condemning Calixta’s sexual immorality by drawing parallels between the storm and her passion while ultimately allowing Calixta to move from the traditional housewife to a more liberating feminist role. Chopin uses the symbol of the storm to portray the brewing storm, its peak, and end with Calixta’s sexual encounter with Alcee. The storm is being used as a metaphor for Calixta’s increasing passion. In the beginning, “the leaves were so still” and the “somber clouds were rolling with sinister intention,” foreshadowing chaos and impending destruction. Similarly, Calixta is blissfully unaware of the quickly approaching storm as she furiously sews at her sewing machine. She is also unaware of her increasing sexual desires being stirred within her and is unaware of the chaos that lies ahead. Chopin writes, “But she felt very warm and often stopped to mop her face on which the perspiration gathered in beads. She unfastened her white sacque at the throat. It began to grow dark…she got up hurriedly and went about closing windows and doors.” Chopin is foreshadowing Calixta’s passionate encounter with Alcee by using the increasing humidity of the incoming storm to provide means for taking her clothes

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