The Storm By Kate Chopin Analysis
Jarrod Padgett
English Composition II
Monday and Wednesday 1:50 2:55 Discussing “The Storm”
Padgett 1
Despite an extremely reserved society in the late 1800’s, Kate Chopin wrote many scandalous stories expressing sexuality and independence in woman. Kate Chopin’s style of literature was about a century premature, and had to wait about seven decades to be published by a more accepting audience. “The Storm” like much of her work, featured a woman and man involved in a sexual and scandalous encounter. This story features an idea that some may find unacceptable, but seems to actually make life more manageable and happy. This encounter between the main female character and main male character in the story seem to serve as a type …show more content…
of hall pass, in which the adultery seems to be presented in an acceptable manner, and the characters of the story end up being more thankful for what they have than prior to the encounter.
“The leaves were so still that even Bibi thought it was going to rain.” (Paragraph 1) The fact that a storm is coming is not only to be taken literally in the sense of bad weather, but also helps to foreshadow metaphorically in terms of a storm of emotion to come. When the focus switches from Bibi, Bobinot and their being stuck in town the weather the storm, to Calixta at their home, the story begins to take shape. “As she stepped outside, Alcee Laballiere rode in at the gate. She had not seen him very often since her marriage, and never alone.” (Paragraph 7) In this sentence we are first introduced as the audience to Alcee and we find out that Alcee and
Calixta have had some sort of history together. This sentence sets the setting for the situations to come Throughout the buildup to the climax Chopin does a very good job of using the storm to describe and affect how things between Calixta and Alcee are going. “The playing of lightning was incessant. A bolt struck a tall chinaberry tree at the edge of the field. It filled all …show more content…
visible space with a blinding glare and the crash seemed to invade the very boards they stood upon.
Padgett 2
Calixta put her hands to her eyes, and with a cry, staggered backward. Alcee’s arm encircled her, and for an instant he drew her close and spasmodically to him.” (Paragraphs 19,20) With this first touch things emotionally and physically between them start to take off. “He pushed her hair back from her face that was warm and steaming… As she glanced up at him the fear in her liquid blue eyes had given place to a drowsy gleam that unconsciously betrayed a sensuous desire. He looked down into her eyes and there was nothing for him to do but gather her lips in a kiss. It reminded him of Assumption… he had kissed and kissed and kissed her.” (Paragraphs 22, 23) In this section of the story things heat up between the two characters and we find out why with their previous history together. We, as the audience, find out that Calixta and Alcee had previous sexual history in a church titled “Assumption.” “Her lips in a manner free to be tasted, as well as her round, white throat and her whiter breasts.” (Paragraph 23) This sentence states that both
Calixta and Alcee feel this encounter is warranted.
“The generous abundance of her passion, without guile or trickery, was like a white flame which penetrated and found response in the depths of his own sensuous nature that had never yet been reached.” (Paragraph 25) This turns out to be a very important quote almost implying that her passion is plentiful and untapped, seemingly like she had to get it all out. “Calixta, on the gallery, watched Alcee ride away… she lifted her pretty chin in the air and laughed aloud.”
(Paragraph 29) This laugh may be mistaken as a kind of guilt but actually is a weight lifted from
Calixta. We, as readers, begin to get the sense that this is something that she did not necessarily hope for a situation like this but needed it.
As focus of the story switches from Calixta back to Bibi and Bobinot we start to understand why this adulterous encounter may be a good thing. “My! Bibi, w’at will yo’ mama
Padgett 3
say! You ought to be ashame’. You oughtn’ put on those good pants. Look at ‘em! An’ that mud on yo’ collar! How you got that mud on yo’ collar, Bibi! I never saw such a boy!” (Paragraph 31)
In this scene Bobinot runs the situation of what is to occur when Bibi and him arrive home, mocking his wife Calixta. This exemplifies the idea that Bobinot is immature, after being in a terrible storm he is worried about what his wife will say when they arrive home covered in mud.
Almost viewing her in an image of his own mother, like he is simply her child. As mentioned above, we realize how important the description of Calixta’s “abundance of passion” really is and what it means.
That Calixta and Bobinot are most likely not sexually involved, leaving
Calixta sexually frustrated with pent up aggression and emotion. “Oh, Bobinot! You back! My! but I was uneasy. W’ere you been during the rain? An’ Bibi? he ain’t hurt? She had clasped Bibi and was kissing him effusively… Bobinot and Bibi began to relax and enjoy themselves.”
(Paragraph 33, 36) Calixta is much more thankful to see Bobinot and Bibi that either of them had expected and, as a result of the encounter between Alcee and Calixta, the family dynamic between Calixta Bobinot and Bibi, is in a much better state.
To refute any arguments to be made about how this situation would affect the family of
Alcee and Clarisse, Alcee’s wife, it is also explained that the encounter leaves his family dynamic in a better way. “As for Clarisse, she was charmed upon receiving her husband’s letter.
She and the babies were doing well. The society was agreeable; many of her old friends and acquaintances were at bay. And the first breath since her marriage seemed to restore the pleasant liberty of her maiden days.” (Paragraph 38) This statement not only solidifies that everything
is well and good, but also raises the question that both Clarisse and Alcee have taken a hall pass, or break, from their marriage.
Padgett 4
The final sentence of the story, “So the storm passed and everyone was happy.”
(Paragraph 39) The physical storm had passed and the metaphorical storm had also passed and all parties were happy. So the scandalous encounter leaves everyone better off than when we found them. Chopins idea is one of our present time period, its so impressive how she captured such an uncommon idea in such an artistic way in such an unaccepting time period. Truly a piece of literature written way ahead of its time.
Padgett 5
English Composition II
Monday and Wednesday 1:50 2:55 Discussing “The Storm”
Padgett 1
Despite an extremely reserved society in the late 1800’s, Kate Chopin wrote many scandalous stories expressing sexuality and independence in woman. Kate Chopin’s style of literature was about a century premature, and had to wait about seven decades to be published by a more accepting audience. “The Storm” like much of her work, featured a woman and man involved in a sexual and scandalous encounter. This story features an idea that some may find unacceptable, but seems to actually make life more manageable and happy. This encounter between the main female character and main male character in the story seem to serve as a type …show more content…
of hall pass, in which the adultery seems to be presented in an acceptable manner, and the characters of the story end up being more thankful for what they have than prior to the encounter.
“The leaves were so still that even Bibi thought it was going to rain.” (Paragraph 1) The fact that a storm is coming is not only to be taken literally in the sense of bad weather, but also helps to foreshadow metaphorically in terms of a storm of emotion to come. When the focus switches from Bibi, Bobinot and their being stuck in town the weather the storm, to Calixta at their home, the story begins to take shape. “As she stepped outside, Alcee Laballiere rode in at the gate. She had not seen him very often since her marriage, and never alone.” (Paragraph 7) In this sentence we are first introduced as the audience to Alcee and we find out that Alcee and
Calixta have had some sort of history together. This sentence sets the setting for the situations to come Throughout the buildup to the climax Chopin does a very good job of using the storm to describe and affect how things between Calixta and Alcee are going. “The playing of lightning was incessant. A bolt struck a tall chinaberry tree at the edge of the field. It filled all …show more content…
visible space with a blinding glare and the crash seemed to invade the very boards they stood upon.
Padgett 2
Calixta put her hands to her eyes, and with a cry, staggered backward. Alcee’s arm encircled her, and for an instant he drew her close and spasmodically to him.” (Paragraphs 19,20) With this first touch things emotionally and physically between them start to take off. “He pushed her hair back from her face that was warm and steaming… As she glanced up at him the fear in her liquid blue eyes had given place to a drowsy gleam that unconsciously betrayed a sensuous desire. He looked down into her eyes and there was nothing for him to do but gather her lips in a kiss. It reminded him of Assumption… he had kissed and kissed and kissed her.” (Paragraphs 22, 23) In this section of the story things heat up between the two characters and we find out why with their previous history together. We, as the audience, find out that Calixta and Alcee had previous sexual history in a church titled “Assumption.” “Her lips in a manner free to be tasted, as well as her round, white throat and her whiter breasts.” (Paragraph 23) This sentence states that both
Calixta and Alcee feel this encounter is warranted.
“The generous abundance of her passion, without guile or trickery, was like a white flame which penetrated and found response in the depths of his own sensuous nature that had never yet been reached.” (Paragraph 25) This turns out to be a very important quote almost implying that her passion is plentiful and untapped, seemingly like she had to get it all out. “Calixta, on the gallery, watched Alcee ride away… she lifted her pretty chin in the air and laughed aloud.”
(Paragraph 29) This laugh may be mistaken as a kind of guilt but actually is a weight lifted from
Calixta. We, as readers, begin to get the sense that this is something that she did not necessarily hope for a situation like this but needed it.
As focus of the story switches from Calixta back to Bibi and Bobinot we start to understand why this adulterous encounter may be a good thing. “My! Bibi, w’at will yo’ mama
Padgett 3
say! You ought to be ashame’. You oughtn’ put on those good pants. Look at ‘em! An’ that mud on yo’ collar! How you got that mud on yo’ collar, Bibi! I never saw such a boy!” (Paragraph 31)
In this scene Bobinot runs the situation of what is to occur when Bibi and him arrive home, mocking his wife Calixta. This exemplifies the idea that Bobinot is immature, after being in a terrible storm he is worried about what his wife will say when they arrive home covered in mud.
Almost viewing her in an image of his own mother, like he is simply her child. As mentioned above, we realize how important the description of Calixta’s “abundance of passion” really is and what it means.
That Calixta and Bobinot are most likely not sexually involved, leaving
Calixta sexually frustrated with pent up aggression and emotion. “Oh, Bobinot! You back! My! but I was uneasy. W’ere you been during the rain? An’ Bibi? he ain’t hurt? She had clasped Bibi and was kissing him effusively… Bobinot and Bibi began to relax and enjoy themselves.”
(Paragraph 33, 36) Calixta is much more thankful to see Bobinot and Bibi that either of them had expected and, as a result of the encounter between Alcee and Calixta, the family dynamic between Calixta Bobinot and Bibi, is in a much better state.
To refute any arguments to be made about how this situation would affect the family of
Alcee and Clarisse, Alcee’s wife, it is also explained that the encounter leaves his family dynamic in a better way. “As for Clarisse, she was charmed upon receiving her husband’s letter.
She and the babies were doing well. The society was agreeable; many of her old friends and acquaintances were at bay. And the first breath since her marriage seemed to restore the pleasant liberty of her maiden days.” (Paragraph 38) This statement not only solidifies that everything
is well and good, but also raises the question that both Clarisse and Alcee have taken a hall pass, or break, from their marriage.
Padgett 4
The final sentence of the story, “So the storm passed and everyone was happy.”
(Paragraph 39) The physical storm had passed and the metaphorical storm had also passed and all parties were happy. So the scandalous encounter leaves everyone better off than when we found them. Chopins idea is one of our present time period, its so impressive how she captured such an uncommon idea in such an artistic way in such an unaccepting time period. Truly a piece of literature written way ahead of its time.
Padgett 5