By Bailey Hill
Kate Chopin wastes no words in her short story “The Storm.” Chopin paints the picture of a vicious and unexpected storm striking a town. This storm occurs simultaneously with and acts as an impetus for an unanticipated and brief affair. Concerned about being caught in the storm, Alcee Laballiere stops at the nearest house which happens to belong to Calixta. Since Calixta’s son and husband are stuck in town at a store getting ingredients for dinner, she hesitates to let Alcee in. However, she does invite him to seek shelter with in her home. They observe the beginning of the hurricane together, and in the midst of a frightening moment, the embrace each other. Though they immediately separate, Alcee cannot resist her. In accordance with the storm, their affair plays out. The story describes the white of Calixta’s breast and throat. At the same time, the clarity of the rain is espoused suggesting a correlation with the purity of both symbols.
This story speaks to people’s deepest desires. Both Calixta and Alcee have children and are happily married. However, given the chance they jump into each other’s arms. Perhaps Kate Chopin intends for this story to be a comment on human curiosity. Though a person may lead a life of satisfaction and contentment, given the chance they will want to experience something they missed. There will always be a part of us that will crave what could be. Calixta and Alcee engage in a brief affair; they satisfy their curiosity and move on with their lives. Both of them, in the aftermath of their indiscretion, make an attempt to reassure their mate of their faithfulness.
Works Cited
Chopin, Kate. “The Storm.” Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and the Essay. Comp. Robert Diyanni. New York: McGraw, 1994. 141-44. Print.
Tags: Bailey Hill, Kate Chopin
27 January 2012 at 7:35 pm |
While this is a brief summary of Kate Chopin’s “The Storm,” you did a terrific job at mentioning all the major points of the short story. Having read this in high school, I wanted to read the summary and your analysis of the short story and your remark that her story is about human curiosity is very true. Chopin takes us in this couple’s private lives of lust and, as you said, she certainly gives us the idea of a couple hoping to reclaim something.
1 February 2012 at 12:24 am |
This brief but intense summary of Kate Chapin’s “The Storm” has me on the edge of my seat. I honestly want to read the book now after this summary. The touch of human curiosity and affair seems to be one in the same but the manner they are told has me curious to read the story. The awkwardness of that affair along with their kids and marriage, seems like it could take an emotional affect on the reader as well. What would the husbands think?
1 February 2012 at 10:36 pm |
I absolutely LOVE Kate Chopin, The Awakening has got to be one of my favorite novels of all time! I’ve never read “The Storm” but after reading this review I would like to! I love Chopin’s usage of symbolism and motifs in her literature, and a storm symbolizing an affair is so extremely appropriate. One of the most interesting things about Chopin and her literature is that it reveals how intuitive she was with the feelings of and soul of women, sometimes making us understand ourselves better.