If Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul or Lucy Stone were known as the most famous activist in history for the women’s right, people cannot forget to mention Kate Chopin whenever they talk about the author who contributed to Feminist movement in the world at the end of 19th century. Kate Chopin’s short stories were usually seen as the affirmation of the human rights, especially the right to life and the right to happiness and freedom of all women in male-dominated society. One of the most outstanding writing of hers that completely represents for a progressive outlook and incredible talent is “The Storm”. The story depicted the relationship of some characters: Calixta, Alcee – Calixta’s former lover, Bobinot - Calixta’s husband, her son and Alcee’s …show more content…
“When he touched her breaths they gave themselves up in quivering ecstasy, inviting his lips. Her mouth was a fountain of delight. And when he possessed her, they seemed to swoon together at the very borderland of life’s mystery.” During the storm, Calixta put the moral standards of society aside and finally let her heart and desire take over her reason. Kate Chopin portrayed Calixta’s mood and attitudes that changed for better saying "the generous abundance of her passion, without guile or trickery, was like a white flame which penetrated and found response in depths of his own sensuous nature that had never yet been reached (p II)." We can imply that although Bobinot was a good husband, he could not fulfill what his wife needed in their marriage. However, when the actual storm was gone, nothing was damaged, leaving the town as it had been before the storm, and the fact that Calixta and Alcee would return to faithfulness with their spouses and their lives which belong to them from the beginning and acted like nothing happened. Kate Chopin did not mention that they felt guilty about their affair or not, but both of them somehow changed their mind: they enjoy more their lives, appreciate what they have and realize how good their families are, "So the storm passed and everyone …show more content…
The story had not been acceptable to the society that the woman appears to be in charge the role of a homemaker. She was busy sewing and taking care of house chores while Bobinot and Bibi were at the store. At that time, marriage could be a trap or a stockade when the woman was expected to be obedient in all forms, and they were not expected to express their displeasure in marriage. That situations were described on Calixta’s and Clarisse’s case. Chopin wrote in the story that Clarisse felt ‘the first free breath since her marriage.’ Readers can understand through this line that Clarisse may have felt indisposed to return home, and maybe she was uncomfortable within her marriage; therefore, during her vacation, she is able to breathe free without Alcee on her side. It is possible that these characters were created by Kate Chopin’s own experiences when she had suffered many difficulties in her whole life. Chopin had no choice for being an independent widow to take care her husband’s business and their children as well after his death, so she decided to raise her voice for all woman of that time by writing stories about how the women feel suppressed and restricted spiritually to their marriage. To express her desire of freedom and expect an open-minded view from general society, Chopin is
Up until the early twentieth century, the accepted role of a woman was that of a housewife and mother. In the opening of ?The Storm,? Calixta exemplifies this homemaker image perfectly; the first time the reader sees Calixta she is ?sewing furiously on a sewing machine? (858). When the storm approaches, her first priority is not her own protection; rather, she gets up ?hurriedly and [goes] about closing windows and doors? and gathering Bobinot?s Sunday clothes, which she had hung out to dry (958). By showing Calixta as a selfless extension of her house and family and not as an individual person, Chopin reiterates the stereotypical inferior image of a woman. After setting up Calixta in this manner, Chopin quickly moves to awaken her with the arrival of her former lover, Alcee Laballiere. Hi...
During this time a storm develops leaving them stranded seeking shelter. Alce, the character who appears to be Calixta first love suddenly appears at her house as she is alone seeking shelter from the storm himself. They had not laid eyes on each other since Calixtra was married which from a passage in the text indicated it had been five years at this points “She was a little fuller of figure than five years before” (The Storm, by Kate Chopin). Surprised to see him she invited him in which resulted in the room being filled with feelings and the sensation of flesh they craved for each other. Like the scene in Titanic they drift away making love to each other passionately. At the beginning Calixtra fights to resist the temptation “Bont! She cried, releasing herself from his encircling arms and retreating from the window” (The Storm, by Kate Chopin) but is ultimately overpower by temptation. Calixtra’s moment of awakening comes when Bobint and Bibi returns and she affectionately attends to her husband and effusively kissing her son. In this moment she see what she has, an amazing family. This is a women how just cheated on her husband with a man she has held feelings for but the love for her husband a family unit holds more values, weirdly it took her committing a wrong deed to realize this. Her moment of awakening in the case was positive though
In Kate Chopin’s story “The Storm” it talks about love and lust. It speaks of two kind of storm that occurs. These two storms I find to be the central part of the story, and is being represented as a symbol within the story. The first storm is the most obvious one that Bibi and Bobinot are faced with. The second storm isn’t that visible for it involves Calixta and Alcee. Just as like most storms they come and pass.
“The rain beat upon the low, shingled roof with a force and clatter that threatened to break an entrance and deluge them there.” is an example of this passion that the storm is showing between the two. Chopin is describing how the passion between Calixta and Alcee is overflowing, and dared anyone to enter the room to break the passion that was so strong between them. Another quote from the narrator is “They did not heed the crashing torrents and the roar of the elements made her laugh as she lay in his arms.”. This quote is explaining the storm, but it is also explaining how Alcee and Calixta were overlooking the storm and concentrating on one
All in all, Kate Chopin is able to combine two very different aspects of life and involve the relationship and symbolism of the storm to physical needs, sexual desires, and new and profound joy. By bringing these two parallel subjects together, the author is able to show the deeper meaning of one simple word, “storm,” and reveal a story that shows the attitudes and beliefs towards marriage and sex. In doing so, Chopin creates a strong point of view between these two subjects and allows for the view of regulations of sex and marriage to be shown throughout her short story, “The Storm.”
Effectively using foreshadowing in a piece of literature enhances the reader's curiosity. One clear example of such usage is seen in Kate Chopin's writing. Her use of foreshadowing in the short story "The Storm" adds an element of intrigue, holding the reader's interest throughout. In this story a father and son, Bobinôt and Bibi, are forced to remain in the store where they were shopping, waiting for an approaching storm to pass. Meanwhile, the wife and mother, Calixta, remaining at home, receives an unexpected visit from a former lover of hers, Alcée. The two lovers ultimately consummate their relationship. Alcée then departs once the storm subsides, at which time the father and son return home. No repercussions of the extramarital affair take place within the story.
This was a story about a sudden storm coming to an American town. The author Kate Chopin wrote this story in 1898, at that time, America was during the two concept conflict time. This story happened when husband and son outside, wife met her ex in their home. The wife could not reject Alcee, so they made a mistake during the storm. After storm past, everything was back to normal, Calixta and Alcee returned to their family. In many people’s thought, Calixta and Alcee are betrayed their families; however, in Chopin’s mind, they are not wrong, they just give each other a chance to vent feeling, this connection does not mean they are betray their families, and I agree with her opinion. Love and marriage are separate, people can have many lovers, but they just have one partner.
The short story “The Storm” by Kate Chopin, deals with the subject of adultery. The story takes place in the early 1900’s. There are two main characters, Calixta (the wife) and Alcee (the former lover). Alcee must take refuge from a passing storm in Calixta’s house, while he is there the two end up making love while Calixta’s husband and son have to wait out the storm at the local store. By doing this Chopin implies the theme that is, adultery is natural and does not necessarily have negative consequences. Through out the story the constant changing of imagery plays a great role in the development of characters and their ability to demonstrate the theme.
These two themes are built upon two main characters. Even the smallest details of these characters bring out the themes in a way that can only give the story a happy ending. Calixta still has a place in her heart for Alce, her prince charming, which gives the affair a chance to happen. The overall story is symbolized through the color white and the passing storm which intensifies all of the emotions in the story. “The Storm” was a controversial story that many did not approve of when it was first written. Today it is appreciated, along with most of Chopin’s work, as an important part of the feminine
Kate Chopin's "The Storm", is a short story about a brief love affair that takes place during a storm that has separated Calixta with her husband and son. The title "The Storm" is an obvious reference to the storm outside, but more importantly to the love affair that takes place. The title refers to nature, which is symbolically used again and again in the story. Chopin uses words like "somber clouds", "threatening roar", and "sinister intentions" to describe the approaching storm. Later in the story those same words in reference to the storm outside, will also be represented symbolically to the storm brewing inside with the love affair. In the beginning of the story Bobinot and his son Bibi stay at a store to let the storm pass by. Calixta, the wife , is at home by herself doing some chores around the house. As the storm starts to approach, Alcee rides in and asks Calixta if he could come in until the storm passes. It starts to rain immediately after he arrives. It's important to know that Alcee and Calixta had past together which he brings up to her later in the story. It is also stated that she has never seen him alone. The storm starts to increase outside, reflecting the sexual tension inside. The storm's sinister intention appears when "The rain beat upon the shingled roof that threatened to break an entrance...". It seems that the storm knows what is going on between the two and is threatening to break in and ruin their chances. They move through out the house and end up in the bedroom "with its white, monumental bed, its closed shutters, looked dim and mysterious. The bed being white symbolizes purity. The two then make their way to the window to watch the storm outside when lightning strikes nearby, falling back into his arms. The storm in a sense seems to be forcing them together now. They then embrace each other in the peek of the storm where things really start to get stormy in the love affair. The two then start making out yahda, yahda, yahda. The thunder is now distant and passing away. The storm outside turns into a soft, lighter rain, being symbolic that the storm is ending.
... The affair brews, it happens, and then it is over. But as we know another storm will happen and so will the affair between these two characters. When Alcée sends a letter to his wife saying that she must not rush home, this is an indication that Alcée may expect to see Calxita again soon. “Mrs. Chopin may refuse to sit judgment on morals, but she covers only one day and one storm and does not exclude the possibility of later misery” (Koloski 145). Kate Chopin ends the story with the idea that this may have been first time but is certainly not the last time will this happen.
Many short story writers have written about the gender and role of woman in society. Some of these stories express what Barbara Walter calls, “The Cult of True Womanhood” meaning the separation of both man and woman in social, political and economic spheres. In order to be considered a “true woman” woman were to abide by the set of standards that were given to her. Women were expected to live by the four main principal virtues - piety, purity, submissiveness, and domestication. In Kate Chopin’s short story, “The Storm,” Calixta the main female character breaks away from “The Cult of True Womanhood” when she has a sexual encounter with her past lover Alcée. The storm goes through many twists and turns that tie with their adulterous actions. Although she breaks away from the four main principal virtues, she in the end is considered to be pure innocent of heart because the action in which occurred happened instantly, and as white as she was, she was taken away from her innocence.
In“The Storm”, Bibi, a young boy, and his father, Bobinot, wait out a storm at a local store. They are both very concerned about the well being of a third member of their family, Calixta, but they cannot do anything about it until the storm is over. Calixta, at home, knows that there is a storm about to break out. An old boyfriend coincidentally stays with her while the storm is taking place. Calixta and her old boyfriend, Alce, see a spark in their lusts for each other then start to make out and the making out leads to sex. When the storm passes, the old boyfriend, Alce leaves. Bibi and Bobinot, Calixta’s husband, never find out that Alce was there. When the child and Babinot return home, Calixta is really glad to see them. In the end of the story, Alce writes a letter to his wife, Clarisse, saying that it’s OK with him if she wants to stay longer on her trip. She is relieved because she wants a break from her husband and the romantic aspect of their relationship. When the storm passes, everything works out well for everyone.
Kate Chopin was a woman and a writer far ahead of her time. She was a realistic fiction writer and one of the leaders and inspirational people in feminism. Her life was tragic and full of irregular events. In fact, this unusual life had an enormous effect on her writings and career. She depicted the lifestyle of her time in her works. In most of her stories, people would find an expansion of her life’s events. In her two stories “The Storm” and “The Story of One Hour” and some of her other works she denoted a lot of her life’s events. Kate Chopin is one of those writers who were influenced by their life and surrounded environment in their fiction writing, and this was very clear in most of her works.
Criticism of The Storm by Kate Chopin While it has traditionally been men who have attached the "ball and chain" philosophy to marriage, Kate Chopin gave readers a woman’s view of how repressive and confining marriage can be for a woman, both spiritually and sexually. While many of her works incorporated the notion of women as repressed beings ready to erupt into a sexual a hurricane, none were as tempestuous as The Storm. Kate Chopin was a woman whose feminist viewpoints were far ahead of her time, which of course garnered her more than her share of criticism. In a time when women were expected to behave "properly" and sexual desire was considered to be something only experienced by men, Chopin spoke with exceptional openness about human sexuality.