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The Storm

            
             In this short story, Kate Chopin uses the setting to edify her theme of adultery. The growing storm outside parallels Calixta's restless sexual passion trapped within. Alcee is forced to take refuge from the passing storm in Calixta's house and while he is there the two make love while Calixta's husband and son wait out the storm at the local store. Chopin implies the theme that is; adultery can be good and not result in negative consequences. .
             Throughout the story constant subtle comparisons are made between the actual storm outside and the storm from within. The first reference is when we are told that Calixta "was greatly occupied and did not notice the approaching storm". This could also be implying that she felt comfortable with her life style, such that it was, and did not suspect that anything was wrong. As we go on we are told that "Alcee Laballiere rode in at the gate". "She had not seen him very often since her marriage, and never alone and the big rain drops began to fall." The big raindrops could also be construed as tears as a result of true feelings being expressed when she did finally see him alone. .
             The first notion of adultery is hinted at soon after Calixta invites him into the gallery. This is when the setting begins to change and we are led to believe that Calixta might have feelings for Alcee as we were told that "his voice and her own startled her as if from a trance". Shortly after that Alcee's feelings also begin to show as he seems to be exploring Calixta's body and describes her as "a little fuller of figure than five years before when she married" and that "her blue eyes still retained their melting quality". .
             As the storm outside continues to intensify, so does the one from within as Calixta "went and stood at the window with a greatly disturbed look on her face". This set the stage for the inevitable as a bolt of lightening strikes a tree and Calixta "staggered backward" into Alcee's arms and "for an instant he drew her close and spasmodically to him".


Essays Related to The Storm

1. The Storm: Setting and Actions

Setting and Actions (parallel progress) Chopin's " The Storm " Dealing with the setting of the Storm, we should first mention a very important thing which is that Kate derived some parts of this setting from her own life. ... The intensity of the storm is symbolic of the intensity of Calixta's passion. The presence of the storm is the driving force behind the story and the adulterous affair. ... On the other hand, there is the onset of the parallel storm; the storm of passions and emotions , Calixta Alone At home and the Old lover, Alcee was searching for a shelter from th...

  • Word Count: 434
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

2. The Storm

In the story "The Storm" Calixta is a good mother, has a good husband, but finds herself attracted to another man. She shows that she is a good mother by being concerned about her child who was at the store with his father during the storm; at the same time worried about their clothes being swept away. ... When she realized that the storm had come she was greatly bothered because her husband and her son weren't home. ... It's a coincidence that Alcee was riding his horse right around Calixta's house while the storm was in progress. "May I come in and wait on your gallery till ...

  • Word Count: 743
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

3. The perfect storm

Perfect Storm Essay In the book "The Perfect Storm", the seven fishermen had to go through many hardships to try and stay alive, because it was them against the swells. ... They had thought it was a normal storm, like all of the others they had all gone through, but in reality it was a perfect storm. ... "A lesser version of that is heading toward the great banks: Hurricane Grace, a late-season fluke that still contains enough energy to crank another storm system off of the chart" (pg.129). ... When the storm hit, they could not do anything but watch. ...

  • Word Count: 953
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Isaac's Storm

In Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson, the Great Storm moves through the streets one fateful Saturday like a "mailman delivering dynamite- (p 198), turning the once-great port city into a vast sea of wreckage and desolation. ... On September 5, the storm was right on top of Havana, Cuba. ... In this age, many believed, modern engines made ships safe from storms. ... How could a storm hurt them inside a giant steel hulk that was the train? ... To say the Weather Bureau had underestimated this storm would be an extreme understatement. ...

  • Word Count: 2532
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Grade Level: High School

5. The Storm

The Storm The setting for "The Storm" by Kate Chopin begins with a thunderstorm. ... They buy a can of shrimps for Calixta but the storm catch them napping so they decide to wait in the store till the storm pass. ... The storm ends at the same time as the passion. ... The storm leaves the world peaceful, bright and clean. ... The storm is the key to the story because it is the powerful force of nature that drives the two lovers together, which would be impossible without the storm. ...

  • Word Count: 387
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

6. The Storm

The Storm In Kate Chopin's "The Storm", the story suggests that passion kept hidden inside will rage violently like a storm until this passion is released. Chopin relates the storm outside with the storm of emotions going on between the characters, Calixta and Alcee, inside Calixta's home. ... A storm does many things for nature. ... This storm rejuvenated their lives with their families as the other storm rejuvenated and replenished the earth outside. ... "So the storm passed and everyone was happy." ...

  • Word Count: 760
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

7. The Storm

The title, of "The Storm," has connotations of a universal swell of energy and fervor of the natural world that is obvious during the encounter of Calixta and Alcee. Just as the storm matures from the first spark of energy, likewise, Calixta is a sexually mature woman, claiming her part in the natural world. ... During the rage of the storm's fury, intense with the explosion of energy flowing from the storm, the escalating passion and energy also swells between Calixta and Alcee; " they seemed to swoon together at the very borderland of life's mystery"(492) while Calixta and Alc...

  • Word Count: 356
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: Graduate

8. the storm

The Storm Oftentimes, great works of literature go unnoticed and unrecognized years to come. ... "The Storm" is one such story in my opinion. ... It is soon apparent that the physical danger of the storm is just a prelude to a less apparent storm. The approaching rider, Alcee, a past love of Calixta and the other main character is forced into the home of Calixta by the storm where a comparable yet different storm unfolds. ... Just as quickly, each storm is slowly dispelled. ...

  • Word Count: 463
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The Storm

The story depicts this storm as the biggest in the past two years. As the storm grows, characters Bobinot and Bibi are forced to remain in the local grocery store until the storm passes. ... As the storm intensified, Calixta grew uneasy and Alcee seized the moment to comfort her. ... The actual storm created emotions that lead to plot of the story. As the storm dies, it seems as if things get back to normal. ...

  • Word Count: 546
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

10. The Storm

In Kate Chopin's "The Storm," it shows her creative use of theme and symbolism throughout which is what makes it such a descriptive and detailed short story. ... In "The Storm," the theme, feminine sexuality and passion is important. ... Chopin's title refers to nature, which is symbolically feminine; the storm can therefore be seen as symbolic of feminine sexuality and passion, and the image of the storm will be returned to again and again throughout the story. ... Symbolism is another important element of "The Storm," because it is used many times throughout the story. ... In th...

  • Word Count: 356
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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