The Storm By Kate Chopin Emotions in The Storm
"The Storm" by Kate Chopin, is a tempestuous short story about a'fling' between Calixta and Alcee. The two characters had been involved ina flirtation years before, but were now both married to other people. Thestorm concerns the sexual tensions and restraints experienced in theVictorian era, while also "making a statement about human's naturaltendency towards sexual passion" (Bartee, unknown). The title itself gives the reader the first impression that somethingturbulent is being suggested. In literature a storm is symbolic ofconflicts and high energies usually associated with passions and turmoil.Robert Wilson suggests that the title is symbolically feminine, and as thestorm is attributed to nature, can be seen as a direct symbol of femalepassions and sexuality. This image is a recurring theme throughout the Calixta is introduced to us as a housewife, busy doing chores. Herhusband, Bobinot has gone to the local store with their son, Bibi, and whenthe storm starts, they decide to shelter there. There are some criticsthat suggest that Bobinot is actually staying out of the way of his wife ashe is aware of the sexual tension and repression she feels within her
Clarisse waspleased to get the letter and more than happy to stay away from her husbandfor a while to take the 'first free breath since her marriage'. It is also for this reason thatClarisse could enjoy the break from her husband, as she no longer had toperform on request. Meanwhile Calixta's husband Bobinot and Bibi are trudging home, withBobinot all worried he had to meet his 'over-scrupulous wife". She is pleased that hethought to buy her shrimps, and the three of them have a really happyevening together. Wilson sees this asa form of 'packing up her marriage, something to be put aside for later,which meant she had opened herself up to the possibility of an encounterwith another man (3). Calixta is nervous because "she had not seen him since hermarriage, and never alone". iage (Wilson, 2) but I found that difficult to see in the text of thestory. He is repleteand calm after his afternoons adventure and able to write to her in aloving way, telling her not to hurry back, as all is well. For some women this wasvery difficult to deal with emotionally because at the same time societysaid women should not enjoy their sexual encounters (even with theirhusband) as this was not 'seemly'. Calixta is portrayed as chatting excitedly andnervously, to cover the sexual tension she feels at seeing a man she hasbeen linked with before. But atthis moment she is alone, working quickly and feeling very warm. It is Calixta's fear of the storm, and concerns for her husband on thesurface of the story, that bring her and Alcee physically closer togetheras he attempts to calm her fears. The story then goeson to describe the room, which takes on an almost intimate feeling beingclosed off, from the storm outside. And Alcee, after sharing a passionate encounter with someone who didnot have the apparently 'restrained' outlook to sex as his wife did, wasable as men have always been able to do, to write to his wife without guiltand be doubly loving and appreciative of her, in her absence.
Common topics in this essay:
Calixta Alcee,
Robert Wilson,
Bobinot Bibi,
Calixta Wilson,
Kate Chopin,
victorian era,
sexual tension,
Meanwhile Calixta's,
calixta alcee,
busy doing chores,
able write,
storm outside,
storm concerns,
era women,
husband bobinot,
busy doing,
story calixta,
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Acceptance Essays
