Kate Chopin's Short Story 'The Storm'

Kate Chopin's short story 'The Storm'; describes an encounter of infidelity between two lovers during a brief thunderstorm. The story alludes to the controversial topic of women's sexuality and passion, which during Chopin's time no one spoke about much less wrote about. So controversial was 'The Storm,'; that it was not published until after her death in eighteen ninety-nine. The story is broken up into five sections, each filled with small clues and hints that reflect her message. In short, Kate Chopin's 'The Storm'; is about a confirmation of feminine sexuality and passion and a rejection of the suppression of it by society.

In the story "The Storm", Kate Chopin plots a situation in which two people surrender to their physical desires. Chopin wrote fiction stories in the late 19th century. She was condemned due to the immorality presented in her work. At her times, woman was considered to be very innocent, and always faithful to her husband. In Chopin's work one sees a totally different view of a woman's behavior. She is not a popular writer of her era because of her crude works; the audience of her period could not justify her stories. In the story "the storm", Kate Chopin by hiding the immoral behavior of her characters behind the fear of bad weather is being ironic.

What is Naturalism? Naturalism is applying scientific principles of objectivity to study humans. In Kate Chopin narrative “The Storm” nature was taking over the story. The Storm is a story that was centered on the nature and how does it force Alcee and Calixta to do things that they did not want to do. In this essay, I will analyse or show how does naturalism was introduce in the story.

In order to better understand how society's expectations of women are incorporated in “The Storm,” it is important to understand author Kate Chopin's protest. Chopin's writings gave the “potential to unhinge patriarchal discourse” (Cutter) by giving women a voice. Her earlier works focused on passive women who were unheard and oppressed in a patriarchal society. Her later works show contrast by “moving towards a clearer understanding of how women most effectively can resist patriarchal suppression” (Cutter). As Chopin's career progressed, she gave

“The Storm’s” theme was based on Love, Immoral affair, and Freedom. Chopin’s technique of foreshadowing, symbolism, irony, tone, and imagery set the plot for Alcee, Calixta, Bobinot, and Clarisse in this short story. “A bolt struck a tall chinaberry tree at the edge of the field. It filled all visible space with a blinding glare and crash seemed to invade the very boards they stood upon” (425). The writer used Imagery to depict how nature shook the foundation of their respective marriages. The significance of the tall chinaberry tree that crashed the boards was that it made Bobinot and Clarisse almost irrelevant in the story. The author used the metaphorical expression to indicate how the storm schemed Bobinot and Clarisse out of the reckoning.

In “The Storm” Kate Chopin makes the setting an essential and entwined part of her action and ideas. The story focuses on the two main characters, Calixta and Alcee and their short love affair. The action is taking place in a small town in Louisiana where all of the characters live. The story is set in the late nineteenth century when adultery was not expected from anyone, as woman were considered to be innocent and faithful. The integration of setting and story can be followed in details about the storm itself, setting of the atmosphere/mood, and also the complexities of married status in the society.

Kate Chopin in “the Storm” uses symbolism in characters to develop the theme that marriages are not perfect. Although there is a physical storm in the story, there is also a storm of emotions. Chopin is able to convey the emotions of her characters throughout the story because the storm that takes place at the very beginning of her story.

Thesis: In Kate Chopin's "The Storm" and "The Story of an Hour," the wives seem to share the foul qualities of selfishness, unfaithfulness and confusion.

Kate Chopin is writing so many great stories about whatever she sees. Kate has many Wonderful stories such as, (The Storm, Desiree’s Baby, A Pair of Silk Stocking, A Respectable Woman, and The Story of an Hour). There is one story in particular that catches my mind which is “The Storm”. 0In Kate chopin's era, women are seen as nothing more than a wife and have to stay with their husband for life. Chopin shows a dramatic scene between Alcee and Calixta during the time of a storm that is passing by. Chopin states a non judgemental spot about refraining from morals about the purity of marriage especially calixta. Chopin drenches in “The Storm” a strong feminist and makes a good question about marriage.

A storm can represent and symbolize many different meanings. The impact of the word can be brought about in many different views and aspects that arrange themselves to create and portray detailed information and great definition to the subject of the short story as a whole. By using the storm as a symbol, it gives way to a passage that will encounter the relationship and parallel aspect of both the fervent thunder that occurs and the sexual passion that is encountered throughout the story. Kate Chopin opens up an interesting view and tentative explanation of human sexuality and the strong point of view of regulations placed on human sexuality as well as the aspect of trying to control a storm. By tying up these two ideas with one word,

In order to dismantle the structure of a patriarchal society, Kate Chopin, the author of the short story, “The Storm,” creates fictive work that examines sexual expression, gender normative roles, and societal expectations through a metaphoric Louisiana storm. In the beginning of the story the reader is introduced to father and son, Bobinôt and Bibi, who are sitting inside of a store waiting for the storm to pass. Chopin starts off the story alluding to the storm that would soon come. The narrator says “...certain sombre clouds that were rolling with sinister intention from the west, accompanied by a sullen, threatening roar.”

Many of us experience inner conflicting storms within our lives. In Kate Chopin’s short story, “The Storm”, we are acquainted with a short-lived love affair, with history in its past. This scandalous story is told in 3rd person omniscient, and is filled with themes of marriage, love, adultery, and femininity. Our protagonist, Calixta, is portrayed as a loving mother and a dignified housewife, despite her infidelity. This symbol of a physical storm shows the silver lining of the emotional storm churning in the hearts of these cheating lovers.

The setting had took place at store called Friedheimer’s, and Calixta’s house during a dark, stormy, and dreary day. In addition, the story will explain about a relationship between Alcee Laballiere and Calixta in the past. Even though Kate gets into detail of “The Storm,” she begins the story of Bobinot and Bibi at the Friedheimer’s store during the storm. They decided to stay at the store until the storm had passed. Bibi is a four year old little boy, and he looked very clever.

This short story was really straight forward until it got to the end, where it had a twist, which made me pick the story to write on. Kate Chopin did an outstanding job using symbolism, but this novel is not for all ages, if you know what I mean. How the setting, tone and theme all tie all together is what makes the story different from the others.

My research paper is on The Storm, by Kate Chopin. This story is about two married couples having an affair during a fierce storm while their partners are elsewhere. Alcee is a high class, landowner and liked Calixta who was lower class. They were in love but could not let anyone know because it would be a disgrace. Five years later, they were both separately married and did not talk often.