'the Storm' by Kate Chopin

“The Storm” by Kate Chopin portrays a woman (Calixta) waiting for her son and husband to come home during a storm; meanwhile she gives into temptation when an old friend calls by he house. Chopin’s short story is immoral because it displays actions that are immoral. Both Calixta and Alcée Laballière (her friend) are married with children. Also, we see by reading the story that they are both devoted to their families. Calixta is very worried about her son Bibi. As the storm starts, she cries “If only I knew where Bibi was!” She wants to be sure that he is safe. Alcée is also concerned about his family, even though they are away in Biloxi. He writes to his wife telling her that “if she and he babies liked it at Biloxi, to stay a month longer.” Considering the fact that Kate Chopin wrote this story at the end of the nineteenth century and that she was from Louisiana (which is mostly catholic), it is very shocking that her characters behave in such a way. The “Ten Commandments” state “Thou shall not commit adultery”. One would think that people of the Catholic faith would follow that. The actions of Calixta and Alcée were purely based on desire and temptation. There were no sentimental feelings or panning involved in this encounter. Alcée just happened to be passing by her house as the storm was starting and needed shelter. However, being alone together triggered old familiar sensations that neither of them could resist. We understand this when Chopin writes that when Alcée touches Calixta’s shoulders in a comforting gesture to reassure her that her son is alright, the contact “had aroused all the old-time infatuation and desire for her flesh”. Calixta feels it as well. At first there was fear in her eyes, but that was soon replaced by “a drowsy gleam that unconsciously betrayed a sensuous desire”. When the storm is over and Alcée goes home, they both go on with their lives as if nothing happened; they are both hypocrites. Neither of them confesses what they have