Stories of Equal Importance

Stories of Equal Importance At first glance the two short stories “The Storm” by Kate Chopin and “Greasy Lake” by T. Coraghesson Boyle seem completely different, at least to the untrained eye. Only when one gets down to the nuts and bolts, so-to-speak, of any story can we truly see what they have to offer. Of course anyone can take a meaningful idea at face value, but as soon as we get to the core of any tale we see its true potential. While there are many obvious differences between “The Storm” and “Greasy Lake”, they are quite similar in their usage of the elements of fiction: they have styles all their own that depict meaningful lessons (or themes) that still resonate today; they gave their settings, which are central to the stories very development, life through the use of figurative language, symbols, and inevitably showed how it affected the characters; and lastly they provided unique but equally engaging tones with those fictional elements. Although these short stories have different themes, they are both significant in that they will always speak to its readers no matter what year it may be. In Chopin’s tale, which this is open to any interpretation, the theme is most definitely related to a sexual nature: this aspect of human life is natural as well as liberating, especially once fully expressed to its maximum potential (as in the case of Calixta and Alcée). An interpretation by an English professor Joseph Rosenblum believes that Chopin was trying to convey that “the lovers’ feelings are natural and therefore not subject to moral censure” (2237). Within the story itself we see that the two lovers are changed after their encounter: Calixta becomes more focused and joyful, Alcée more sincere, and both more liberated as individuals. Since sexuality is such a staple in the lives of every person, it can be understood that this theme is most definitely relevant to readers. As for Greasy Lake the theme is a bit straighter forward, but equally as