"The Storm" is a story of infidelity, which forces its readers to question the acceptability of it. In 1898, when Chopin first wrote this piece, adultery was seen as unforgivable, and in some cases, punishable. At the time, a "one-night stand" would be as shocking as Chopin's descriptions of her protagonists' sexual encounter. Today, where faithlessness is far more common, the story still seems somewhat unrealistic, but it clearly represents the author's sexually-liberated views. The main character, Calixta, integrates one act of falseness into her marriage, and emerges from it enlivened and revitalized.
             Throughout the narrative, the characters all symbolize different parts of this rather complicated piece. The first line states "the leaves were so still that even Bibi (Calixta's young son) thought it was going to rain" (119). Still leaves may represent the quiet, uninterrupted lifestyle of Bobinot and Calixta. Within the context of the story, there is no evidence of intimacy in their marriage, which may have lead Calixta into adultery. Additionally, "the somber clouds were rolling with sinister attention from the West," thus symbolizing and foreshadowing the events that were to come later on in the story between Calixta and her lover.
             The symbol of the storm is undoubtedly intended to mirror Calixta's imprecise but increasing restlessness for sexual passion which will explode at the first opportunity. While she sits at home sewing, she is unaware of the approaching storm, but conscious of the stifling heat. This discomfort causes her to "[unfasten] her white sacque," exposing the top of her breasts (121). At this point, Alcee Laballiere, Calixta's former lover appears, asking for shelter on her porch. Although the two had never slept together, they were very much in love during their time at Assumption, a parish west of New Orleans. After that, t...