The Storm by Kate Chopin Essay Example for Free

The assail by Kate Chopin EssayThe short story The Storm by Kate Chopin revolves around a setting that is both exciting and enticing. Chopins portrayal of the storms setting reinforces the plots main thematic elements through descriptive imagery that coincides with the characters emotions throughout the story. The characters in this story, Alcee and Calixta in particular, each make their own best of the situation as the storm hits. The storm is described as a violent one, with thrashing winds and glary rain. The cracking of the thunder is frightening to Calixta, and jump-starts an emotional reunion between her and Alcee.Alcee takes shelter in Calixta and her husband, Bobintots home before the storm begins. Alcee, hearing the rumble of the thunder and the nauseous voice of Calixta, tries to comfort her. While the rain beats against the door, he reminds her of a moment that they sh atomic number 18d in Assumption. They then began to kiss one another as they did that night in As sumption. One thing led to another and they ended up engaging in a sexual encounter that was purely for the cheer of each of them. In the late 1800s sex was not looked upon as an experience that was meant to be pleasurable for a woman, instead it was looked upon as an obligation of a wife to her husband.The setting of this story seems to act as a catalyst for these two individuals to look back at their past together and to relive it. While Calixta and Alcee are fornicating, her husband and son, Bibi, are taking cover in a cistern from the storm. They were out getting shrimp for Calixta to cook for dinner. Bibi had been splashed with mud on his advanced pants and the collar of his shirt, and his father commented My Bibi, wat will yo mama say (Chopin 117). They then freshened up a bit to appear more becoming when they returned home. It seems that Bobintot cares very a good deal for his wife and always wants him and his son to look presentable when they are around Calixta. It also seems as though the two are not likewise worried or so Calixtas welfare during the storm, although the story does make mention of whether she will be alright or not.When Alcee and Calixta are talking inside her house about their epoch in Assumption, Chopin writesFor in Assumption, he had kissed and kissed and kissed her until his senses would well nigh fail, and to save her he would resort to a desperate flight. If she was not an immaculate dove in those days, she was distillery inviolate a passionate creature whose very defenselessness had made her defense, against which his honor forbade him to prevail. (Chopin 116).This is telling the reader that they did not make love back in Assumption. Calixta was a virgin then and they were too afraid of being caught to give themselves to each other. If they had sex, Calixta would have probably become pregnant and their reputations would have been destroyed. She would have been labelled a harlot and Alcees honor would have been ruined. However now in this moment of the storm, she is married, and if they have sex and she gets pregnant, everyone will assume that the baby belongs to Bobintot and she will not be caught.Then storm then ended and Alcee rode off on his horse. Bobintot and Bibi returned home with the shrimp and Calixta acted very excited to see them. She got excited and told her husband Shrimps Oh, Bobintot You too good fo anything (Chopin 117) and kissed him and Bibi excessively. The reader also learns that Alcee has a wife that is perching in Biloxi. Alcee wrote a loving letter to her that night telling her that he is doing well and that she should stay in Biloxi if she and the children are fairing well there.The setting often invokes emotional responses that force the characters to react accordingly, which, in turn develops the plot. The surrounding storm is a representation of Calixtas articled up inner emotions. She seems to feel like she has no pleasure in her life and cant do anything that she wa nts to do. This is why she so effortlessly acts out in the manner she does with Alcee. The story tells the reader that while Calixta is in Alcees arms, the thunder and wind do not faze her whatsoever when Chopin writesThey need not heed the crashing torrents, and the pule of the elements madeher laugh as she flummox in his arms. She was a revelation in that dim, mysterious chamber as white as the couch she lay upon. (Chopin 116). On any given afternoon, a storm of this magnitude would easily frighten Calixta, as she was frightened before Alcee took her into his arms, however while romancing with Alcee, Calixta was at heartsease with the storm. The reader can infer that Calixta is overwhelmingly enthused by the situation that she is in. Furthermore, the storm actually acts as a sort of door that allows these actions to take place.The Storm was scripted and set in the late 1800s, when women had few purposes in life other than cleaning, cooking, bearing children, and pleasing their h usbands. Kate Chopin seemed to contradict this in her writing. Writing a story about a womans extramarital affair with a man, who is also married, was something that few people wrote about or agreed with in her day. In fact, the majority of society powerfully disagreed with her work. So much even that she was not allowed to publish anymore after her novel The Awakening.In conclusion, Chopins portrayal of the storms setting reinforces the plots main thematic elements through descriptive imagery that coincides with the characters emotions throughout the story. Chopins use of descriptive imagery in The Storm draws the reader into the setting and houses essential elements for plot development. Chopin utilizes the stormy setting to portray the characters active in sinful acts that at the time were considered taboo. Also, the setting of The Storm provides for the reader an atmosphere capable for understanding and relating to the plots many themes. Not only does the setting provide essen tial elements for plot development, it also acts somewhat as a separate character in itself by affecting the mood and actions of the main characters.Works CitedChopin, Kate. The Storm. literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama.Eds. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 3rd. ed. New York Longman, 2002. 114-118.