The Storm (short story)
Encyclopedia
"The Storm" is a short story
by the American writer Kate Chopin
, written in 1898
. It did not appear in print in Chopin's lifetime; it was published in 1969. This story is the sequel to Chopin's At the Cadian Ball
.
Meanwhile, back at their house, Calixta is so occupied with her sewing that, at first, she does not notice the ominous clouds or thunder. Finally, she notices that it is growing darker outside and decides to shut the windows and retrieve Bobinôt's clothes, which are hanging outside. Alcée, one of Calixta's former beaus, rides up on his horse and helps her remove the remaining clothes from the line.
The storm worsens and Calixta invites Alcée into her home until it abates. Alcée was hesitant to come in and stayed outside until it became apparent that the storm was not going to let up. Calixta gathers up the lengths of cotton sheet she had been sewing while Alcée takes a seat in the rocker. Calixta goes over to the window and observes the intensity of the storm and worries about her husband and son. Alcée attempts to comfort her and reminisces about the passion they once felt for each another. As the storm increases in intensity, so does the passion of the two lovers. Alcée brought out the passion and love they once had for one another. The lover's sexual encounter ends at the same time as the storm. Alcée rides off on his horse.
Bobinôt and Bibi return from the store and Calixta immediately embraces them. Bobinôt presents his gift of the can of shrimp to his wife and she remarks that they will feast that night. Meanwhile, Alcée writes a loving letter to his wife, Clarisse, and encourages her to stay in Biloxi as long as she needs. He notes that their well-being is more important than the separation anxiety that he endures. Clarisse is charmed by the letter and is happy in Biloxi because she feels free, as if she were a maiden again. Though she is devoted to her husband, Clarisse feels that she is able to forego intimacy with him for some time. The story ends with the short line, "So the storm passed and every one was happy."
The narrator begins by describing Calixta as a worrisome wife, but, after Alcée notices her for the first time in five years, the description shifts to her youthful beauty. Calixta's husband, the reader assumes, no longer looks at her the way Alcée does. He sees her as a real woman, but she pretends that everything has changes especially after having a child. After the rain stops "the sun was turning the glistening green world into a palace of gems." This could symbolize new outlooks on the two lovers' marriages. The metaphor
could also mean, since the rain was the passion, and the world was their perception of both their marriages (all the blinds closed i.e. not thinking about their marriages), and the palace of gems is how beautiful their marriages looked afterward, then their marriages won't have that beauty with time, because like the world after a rain when the sun is shining, it only glistens until the rain dries up. The story ends with the quote "So the storm passed and every one was happy," symbolizing Calixta and Alcée were happy to have the affair. It helped their marriages and both spouses remained unaware. The point of view
is 3rd person omniscient.
The story also highlights images of purity. White imagery is introduced at the beginning of the second section when Calixta unbuttons her white blouse at the neck. When we see the interior of the house for the first time, the narrator describes the "white, monumental bed." When the sexual tension is released, the sexualized purity reaches a climax; her neck, exposed by the act of unbuttoning, is white, and her breasts are "whiter." She is "as white as the couch she lay upon," and her passion is described as a "white flame." Added to this seemingly paradoxical use of white are the references to the Virgin Mary. While Assumption is a place name, it is also the feast that celebrates the bodily ascension of Mary into heaven, a metaphorical description of what has just happened to Calixta, and, to further the connection, "[h]er firm, elastic flesh" is compared to a "creamy lily." The lily is Mary's flower.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by the American writer Kate Chopin
Kate Chopin
Kate Chopin, born Katherine O'Flaherty , was an American author of short stories and novels. She is now considered by some to have been a forerunner of feminist authors of the 20th century....
, written in 1898
1898 in literature
The year 1898 in literature involved some significant new books.-New books:*Elizabeth von Arnim - Elizabeth and Her German Garden*F. W. Bain - A Digit of the Moon*L...
. It did not appear in print in Chopin's lifetime; it was published in 1969. This story is the sequel to Chopin's At the Cadian Ball
At the Cadian Ball
"At the Cadian Ball", written by Kate Chopin in 1892, was the less popular prequel to her short story "The Strorm". A distinctive feature of the short story is the use of local color.-Plot summary:...
.
Plot summary
Bobinôt and his four-year-old son, Bibi, are at Friedheimer's store when a particularly violent storm emerges. The two decide to remain at the store until the storm passes. Bobinôt decides to buy a can of shrimp for his wife, Calixta, while the pair waits for the storm to abate.Meanwhile, back at their house, Calixta is so occupied with her sewing that, at first, she does not notice the ominous clouds or thunder. Finally, she notices that it is growing darker outside and decides to shut the windows and retrieve Bobinôt's clothes, which are hanging outside. Alcée, one of Calixta's former beaus, rides up on his horse and helps her remove the remaining clothes from the line.
The storm worsens and Calixta invites Alcée into her home until it abates. Alcée was hesitant to come in and stayed outside until it became apparent that the storm was not going to let up. Calixta gathers up the lengths of cotton sheet she had been sewing while Alcée takes a seat in the rocker. Calixta goes over to the window and observes the intensity of the storm and worries about her husband and son. Alcée attempts to comfort her and reminisces about the passion they once felt for each another. As the storm increases in intensity, so does the passion of the two lovers. Alcée brought out the passion and love they once had for one another. The lover's sexual encounter ends at the same time as the storm. Alcée rides off on his horse.
Bobinôt and Bibi return from the store and Calixta immediately embraces them. Bobinôt presents his gift of the can of shrimp to his wife and she remarks that they will feast that night. Meanwhile, Alcée writes a loving letter to his wife, Clarisse, and encourages her to stay in Biloxi as long as she needs. He notes that their well-being is more important than the separation anxiety that he endures. Clarisse is charmed by the letter and is happy in Biloxi because she feels free, as if she were a maiden again. Though she is devoted to her husband, Clarisse feels that she is able to forego intimacy with him for some time. The story ends with the short line, "So the storm passed and every one was happy."
Analysis
The Storm is a story of sexuality, a topic not publicly discussed in 1898. The relationship between Calixta and Alcée brought out a degree of passion that was absent from their marriages. Calixta was scared of the storm, but Alcée's calmness relaxed her. When Alcée embraced her after lightning and thunder hit, it reminded her of the love she once had for Alcée. It was as though her sexuality was driven by nature. The storm was causing destruction, like the bruise she put on her marriage by having the affair with Alcée.The narrator begins by describing Calixta as a worrisome wife, but, after Alcée notices her for the first time in five years, the description shifts to her youthful beauty. Calixta's husband, the reader assumes, no longer looks at her the way Alcée does. He sees her as a real woman, but she pretends that everything has changes especially after having a child. After the rain stops "the sun was turning the glistening green world into a palace of gems." This could symbolize new outlooks on the two lovers' marriages. The metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
could also mean, since the rain was the passion, and the world was their perception of both their marriages (all the blinds closed i.e. not thinking about their marriages), and the palace of gems is how beautiful their marriages looked afterward, then their marriages won't have that beauty with time, because like the world after a rain when the sun is shining, it only glistens until the rain dries up. The story ends with the quote "So the storm passed and every one was happy," symbolizing Calixta and Alcée were happy to have the affair. It helped their marriages and both spouses remained unaware. The point of view
Point of view (literature)
The narrative mode is the set of methods the author of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical story uses to convey the plot to the audience. Narration, the process of presenting the narrative, occurs because of the narrative mode...
is 3rd person omniscient.
The story also highlights images of purity. White imagery is introduced at the beginning of the second section when Calixta unbuttons her white blouse at the neck. When we see the interior of the house for the first time, the narrator describes the "white, monumental bed." When the sexual tension is released, the sexualized purity reaches a climax; her neck, exposed by the act of unbuttoning, is white, and her breasts are "whiter." She is "as white as the couch she lay upon," and her passion is described as a "white flame." Added to this seemingly paradoxical use of white are the references to the Virgin Mary. While Assumption is a place name, it is also the feast that celebrates the bodily ascension of Mary into heaven, a metaphorical description of what has just happened to Calixta, and, to further the connection, "[h]er firm, elastic flesh" is compared to a "creamy lily." The lily is Mary's flower.