Topic: Read and critique Kate Chopin’s “The Storm”. How does the author want you to respond?
“ The Storm” by Kate Chopin, begins in a chronological order, with foreshadowing, symbolism and the power of imagination, which makes the reader keen to finish reading the story. The story is set in Bobinots home and the Friedheimer’s store. In the narration, a storm is approaching and Bobinot and his four year old son Bibi decide to stay in the Friedheimer’s store till the storm subsides. We are introduced to “leaves so still” even Bibi the little four year old boy thinks it’s going to rain. As the plot keeps unfolding, we are introduced to the dramatic situation where Calixta, Bobinot’s wife, is home alone and Alcee a man she knows from the past seeks shelter from the storm and Calixta lets her into her marital home. The reader at this point is thinking what is going to happen between a hot blooded man and a woman who is not his wife all locked up in a room, however the author points to the fact that, both of them know each other from the past.
One technique the writer uses to keep the reader in suspense is the narration technique. The story is in the third person omniscient. This technique gives the narrator full access to the unfolding of the plot, for example, the author makes Alcee ask Calixta if she remembers what happened in the Assumption and when she responds in the affirmative, and says “ ... For in Assumption he kissed her and kissed her and kissed her..”This is repetition for emphasis therefore it comes as no surprise when there is a sexual scene after this statement which synchronizes perfectly with the storm outside. The description is done so beautifully that readers react by judging Calixta and Alcee in their act of adultery because we know both Calixta and Alcee are married. The reader thus makes a connection from the beginning when we are introduced to the storm, the reader now knows, it’s not only a physical storm but a symbol of the sexual encounter between Alcee and Calixta. Therefore the title represents the sexual tension that builds between Alcee and Calixta. The tension increases as the storm becomes intense and after they both have each other, the storm subsides and “the sun was turning the glistening green world into a palace of gems”.
In the time period the story is set, which is the late nineteenth century, society had certain standards and restraints on the woman. However the author is making a statement about humans’ natural tendency towards sexual passion. The fact that Calixta is a woman did not mean she did not have any sexual feelings. Calixta is described as a typical wife playing the conservative wifely role; sewing, airing Bobinot’s Sunday clothes outside. These are the expected roles of a wife. Kate Chopin uses the many roles Calixta plays in the storm to illustrate the sexual constraints of women at the time. At one point, she is doing house chores with vigor and frustration. She is multitasking. However when Alcee arrives on the scene the clothes are in danger of blowing away because there is a strong wind approaching with the storm. Alcee grabs Bobinots pants to prevent the wind from blowing it way. This symbolizes the social and marital constraints of Calixta. She now talks excitedly about house work basically expressing the sexual tension she feels around Alcee.
Kate Chopin unfolds the sexual passion Calixta has built within by saying “… when he touched her breasts they gave themselves up in quivering ecstasy, inviting his lips”. These are stormy sexual passions Calixta has within her. Calixta’s sexuality is repressed by the constraints of her marriage and society’s view of women- the housekeeping and ‘baby-making’ role. Through this encounter with Alcee, Calixta is able to release her true feminine sexuality in a completely different manner than she is with her husband.
In conclusion, the author uses the power of the omniscient narrator to make believe his protagonist Calixta is having a sexual encounter with a married man and to make matters worse, she is not remorseful about that act. She watches her lover ride away and goes on to prepare super for her family. She even gives her husband a kiss on the check when he gives her shrimps he bought for her. This makes readers think Calixta is a bad and immoral woman. Alcee on the other hand is also very happy with his life and writes to his wife to extend her vacation. In a nutshell, the resolution of the story is, “after the sexual encounter, “… the storm passes and everyone is happy”. Kate Chopin makes a huge statement with her narration technique and it makes a reader think, if a man has sexual feelings, a woman is entitled to one also because at the end of the day, when a woman is happy ultimately the man is happy and the family at large is happy.
“ The Storm” by Kate Chopin, begins in a chronological order, with foreshadowing, symbolism and the power of imagination, which makes the reader keen to finish reading the story. The story is set in Bobinots home and the Friedheimer’s store. In the narration, a storm is approaching and Bobinot and his four year old son Bibi decide to stay in the Friedheimer’s store till the storm subsides. We are introduced to “leaves so still” even Bibi the little four year old boy thinks it’s going to rain. As the plot keeps unfolding, we are introduced to the dramatic situation where Calixta, Bobinot’s wife, is home alone and Alcee a man she knows from the past seeks shelter from the storm and Calixta lets her into her marital home. The reader at this point is thinking what is going to happen between a hot blooded man and a woman who is not his wife all locked up in a room, however the author points to the fact that, both of them know each other from the past.
One technique the writer uses to keep the reader in suspense is the narration technique. The story is in the third person omniscient. This technique gives the narrator full access to the unfolding of the plot, for example, the author makes Alcee ask Calixta if she remembers what happened in the Assumption and when she responds in the affirmative, and says “ ... For in Assumption he kissed her and kissed her and kissed her..”This is repetition for emphasis therefore it comes as no surprise when there is a sexual scene after this statement which synchronizes perfectly with the storm outside. The description is done so beautifully that readers react by judging Calixta and Alcee in their act of adultery because we know both Calixta and Alcee are married. The reader thus makes a connection from the beginning when we are introduced to the storm, the reader now knows, it’s not only a physical storm but a symbol of the sexual encounter between Alcee and Calixta. Therefore the title represents the sexual tension that builds between Alcee and Calixta. The tension increases as the storm becomes intense and after they both have each other, the storm subsides and “the sun was turning the glistening green world into a palace of gems”.
In the time period the story is set, which is the late nineteenth century, society had certain standards and restraints on the woman. However the author is making a statement about humans’ natural tendency towards sexual passion. The fact that Calixta is a woman did not mean she did not have any sexual feelings. Calixta is described as a typical wife playing the conservative wifely role; sewing, airing Bobinot’s Sunday clothes outside. These are the expected roles of a wife. Kate Chopin uses the many roles Calixta plays in the storm to illustrate the sexual constraints of women at the time. At one point, she is doing house chores with vigor and frustration. She is multitasking. However when Alcee arrives on the scene the clothes are in danger of blowing away because there is a strong wind approaching with the storm. Alcee grabs Bobinots pants to prevent the wind from blowing it way. This symbolizes the social and marital constraints of Calixta. She now talks excitedly about house work basically expressing the sexual tension she feels around Alcee.
Kate Chopin unfolds the sexual passion Calixta has built within by saying “… when he touched her breasts they gave themselves up in quivering ecstasy, inviting his lips”. These are stormy sexual passions Calixta has within her. Calixta’s sexuality is repressed by the constraints of her marriage and society’s view of women- the housekeeping and ‘baby-making’ role. Through this encounter with Alcee, Calixta is able to release her true feminine sexuality in a completely different manner than she is with her husband.
In conclusion, the author uses the power of the omniscient narrator to make believe his protagonist Calixta is having a sexual encounter with a married man and to make matters worse, she is not remorseful about that act. She watches her lover ride away and goes on to prepare super for her family. She even gives her husband a kiss on the check when he gives her shrimps he bought for her. This makes readers think Calixta is a bad and immoral woman. Alcee on the other hand is also very happy with his life and writes to his wife to extend her vacation. In a nutshell, the resolution of the story is, “after the sexual encounter, “… the storm passes and everyone is happy”. Kate Chopin makes a huge statement with her narration technique and it makes a reader think, if a man has sexual feelings, a woman is entitled to one also because at the end of the day, when a woman is happy ultimately the man is happy and the family at large is happy.
posted by Noviewoo @ 8:19 PM
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