Kate Chopin "The Storm" Analysis
Analysis of "The Storm"
Kate Chopin’s story is set in Louisiana in the early 1900s and in it she portrays the act of love and infidelity. There are two people in a marriage and it is important for each party to feel loved, special, and to receive their desired fulfillments. Chopin uses this story to depict the passionate urges that a person can be overcome with if they are missing it in their own relationship. In the short story "The Storm," she uses the literary elements symbolism, point of view, and setting to reveal her perspective on the theme of marriage and fulfillment.
Kate Chopin uses the approaching storm as a symbol of bringing the main characters back together. The two main characters, whom are former lovers are Calixta and Alcee. Alcee was coming upon Calixta’s house during the time of the storm and had to take shelter in her home while it passed. The storm is the most significant symbol in the story because it is portrayed as the reason for bringing Alcee and Calixta back together. Alcee and Calixta had not seen each other “very often since her marriage, and never alone” (Chopin 122) which made this approaching storm very convenient for the two because her husband and son were held up at the store and Alcee’s family was out of town. Also, in the story, Chopin describes the storm as “crashing torrents” (Chopin 123) which could symbolize the passion the two have for one another.
The use of colors is also a sign of symbolism for both the lack of passion that is in Calixta’s marriage and also the passion that she has for Alcee. This does not mean Bibinôt doesn’t love or care about her because it is mentioned that he “purchased a can of shrimps, of which Calixta was very fond of” (Chopin 121) which meant he had his wife on his mind. The color white is the most significant color used throughout the story. White symbolizes innocence and purity and in the story it is used to describe Calixta’s breast and neck, and also the “white, monumental bed”
Kate Chopin’s story is set in Louisiana in the early 1900s and in it she portrays the act of love and infidelity. There are two people in a marriage and it is important for each party to feel loved, special, and to receive their desired fulfillments. Chopin uses this story to depict the passionate urges that a person can be overcome with if they are missing it in their own relationship. In the short story "The Storm," she uses the literary elements symbolism, point of view, and setting to reveal her perspective on the theme of marriage and fulfillment.
Kate Chopin uses the approaching storm as a symbol of bringing the main characters back together. The two main characters, whom are former lovers are Calixta and Alcee. Alcee was coming upon Calixta’s house during the time of the storm and had to take shelter in her home while it passed. The storm is the most significant symbol in the story because it is portrayed as the reason for bringing Alcee and Calixta back together. Alcee and Calixta had not seen each other “very often since her marriage, and never alone” (Chopin 122) which made this approaching storm very convenient for the two because her husband and son were held up at the store and Alcee’s family was out of town. Also, in the story, Chopin describes the storm as “crashing torrents” (Chopin 123) which could symbolize the passion the two have for one another.
The use of colors is also a sign of symbolism for both the lack of passion that is in Calixta’s marriage and also the passion that she has for Alcee. This does not mean Bibinôt doesn’t love or care about her because it is mentioned that he “purchased a can of shrimps, of which Calixta was very fond of” (Chopin 121) which meant he had his wife on his mind. The color white is the most significant color used throughout the story. White symbolizes innocence and purity and in the story it is used to describe Calixta’s breast and neck, and also the “white, monumental bed”
Cited: Chopin, Kate. “The Storm.” Literature an Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. 121-124. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. Vol. 7th Edition. New York: PEARSON, 2013.