ipl-logo

How Does Kate Chopin Create Tension In The Storm

1117 Words5 Pages

The word storm represents a violent disturbance of the atmosphere. Vigorous winds, large amounts of rain, thunder, lightning, and unpredictable temperatures. However, the word storm can take on various meanings when applied to life situations. Kate Chopin’s “The Storm” displays a story that focuses on two main characters, Calixta and Alcee. While the story centers around an actual storm that forces Bobinot, Calixta’s husband, from the house for an extended period of time, the inner storm that erupts for Calixta when Alcee arrives delineates a metaphoric storm. Their brief love affair is referred to the title, where the word “storm” exemplifies the strong erotic passion and lack of discipline among them. Meanwhile, as Bobinot and Bibi, Calixta’s …show more content…

As the overall tension of the storm and affair ending is resolved, the main unity is unearthed. What is wrong for one person necessarily might not be wrong for another. Chopin ends the storm, the affair, and the story. This seems to confirm that Chopin intended to align the sequence of events with the development of the storm. It is also an excellent example of the symbolism used in the story. The denotation of the last sentence is that the characters are happy at the passage of the storm. However, the allegation for Calixta and Alcee is much deeper, implying that their happiness is derived from the passion they shared throughout the storm. And so the story ends with everyone happy and satisfied. The storm is an effective setting and more than an adequate symbol. The storm brings the lovers together, to describing their sexual climax and then quietly and stylishly ending the affair. It is the description of the storm that creates the foundation and intensity of the interlude between Calixta and Alcee. Carrying it from beginning, climax and end, the storm is what makes it all possible. There is no suggestion that the protagonists will get together again, nor is there the promise that this happiness will last forever. Nevertheless, the simple bluntness of this statement gives the feeling that all is well and will remain well. The fact that the characters benefitted from this one act helps to make the point that the ideas of right and wrong are not clean cut. The justification shown in this story emphasizes the idea that it is important to think as an individual and do what feels right, not necessarily what is seen as

Show More
Related

Compare And Contrast Updike And Kate Chopin

1743 Words | 7 Pages

In this context, the storm symbolizes the slowly growing build-up of emotions in Calixta’s life and, in turn, her unawareness of them until they finish manifesting. Calixta’s attempt to physically ‘close’ herself off from the storm further represents how she tries to confine her feelings to herself; which Chopin utilizes to highlight Calixta’s growing mental confinement. Continuing with the theme of imprisonment, Chopin illustrates Calixta’s dedication to her family in order to emphasize her

Read More

The Jilting Of Granny Weatherall Literary Analysis

1245 Words | 5 Pages

On the other hand, The Storm’s narration is that of 3rd person omniscient. The reader is not able to get into the thoughts and feelings of Calixta. Although they are there when Calixta is worried about her husband and child being stuck in the storm and when she is being pleasured by Alcée, they do not feel those emotions with her “She was a revelation in that dim, mysterious chamber; as white as the couch she lay upon” (Chopin 2). Giving the reader the ability to experience Ellen’s emotion versus just having the reader there while Calixta is with her lover is what makes the narration of The Jilting of Granny Weatherall create such a believable

Read More

The Hero's Journey In Unbreakable

702 Words | 3 Pages

Storms are used in plots to represent a variety of things, but generally show a changing of perspective and allows for a revelation. True to form this is when David becomes the “hero” he is meant to be and finds out Elijah’s villainous scheme. The rain is used as a progressive set to push the hero into self-awareness of what's going on around him. David’s journey ultimately sets polarity between the characterization between hero and monster, since the journey always surrounds the hero in test of morality and heroism and the villain is in the background and

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Once More To The Lake By E. B. White

620 Words | 3 Pages

Whites choice to personify the thunderstorm blowing across the lake exemplifies the all too familiar feeling of an approaching thunderstorm. White vividly describes the thunderstorm by personifying the thunder and the lightning. His decision to personify them places the reader in that exact moment, standing next the the speaker. Both listening to the “crackling of the light against the dark” and watching the “gods grinning and licking their chops in the hills.” This causes the reader to this same experience from their childhood, just as the speaker recalls his own fond memories of August at the lake.

Read More

Unfulfilling Marriage In Kate Chopin's The Storm

859 Words | 4 Pages

Essay 3 Unfulfilling Marriage The Storm written by Kate Chopin takes place on a stormy day, with a cyclone approaching. Calixta sat upon a sewing table diligently sewing while her husband Bobinot and son Bibi went to the Friedhelmers store. Bobinot watched as the storm and using his conceses Bobinot decided to stay at the store to keep out of the storms path. Back at the home, Calixta was rushing to prepare for the storm, Alcee a towns man, came riding up asking for shelter until the cyclone passed.

Read More

An Analysis Of Mcknight Malmar's The Storm

926 Words | 4 Pages

Janet: Oblivious to the Obvious Due to Mental Manipulation Janet, the main character in McKnight Malmar’s short story “The Storm,” is not only married to a murderer, but also a victim of mental and emotional manipulation. Janet is gullible to Ben’s suspicious actions and does not question him at all, despite obvious red flags. The fact that Janet believes that the storm is making her see things that are not real, instead of putting together the evidence that her husband has displayed, is proof that Janet is used to questioning the validity of her own perception regularly. Ben takes advantage of Janet’s naivety and codependency to the point where she does not question him about anything, but instead, questions her own sanity. It is evident from the very beginning of the story that Janet relies on Ben for comfort.

Read More

Weather: The Importance Of Weather In Frankenstein By Mary Shelley

322 Words | 2 Pages

The impact of the weather scene is a way to indirectly relate to the murder of Victor’s young brother, William. The author, Shelley utilizes weather to convey the Victor’s emotional feelings about the murder of his bother William. Through imagery in the quote, Shelley is able to utilize words to describe the weather relating them to both the storm and what has happened to our protagonist. To me, the flashes of light illuminate the lake which is his brother. William’s illumination is the light of his life is soon quenched when the author describes the “pitchy darkness”

Read More

Kate Chopin's 'The Storm'

298 Words | 2 Pages

When I first read “The Storm” by Kate Chopin I was confused, until I read it for the second and third time; I was puzzled by how two married people can get away with cheating. Furthermore, what I like most about this short fiction story is that it gets you thinking, I imagined myself in Calixta’s shoes being alone in a house during a storm not knowing if you will ever see your husband and son again will make you do some unforgettable things. I’m not saying that I would have done the same thing Calixta did but I can see where she is coming from. Calixta and Alcee secret is safe, just as the storm itself has pass so did their infidelity. Reading this story really add up to reasons why I don’t believe in marriage, just cause you signed a paper

Read More

Themes In Kate Chopin's The Storm

1043 Words | 5 Pages

Her affair with Alcee is restoring her freedom within her marriage. The encounter plays as a reminder of her maiden days before she weds her husband. Back when she still had her freedom. Alcee regains his sense of freedom too. The affair is refreshing for them

Read More

'The Evolution Of The Storm'

233 Words | 1 Pages

As the story begins to work its way up to the climax, the storm becomes more intense and later begins to symbolize the affair between Calixta and Alcée. The evolution of the storm also represents the sexual tension building throughout the story between Alcée and Calixta. It is very noticeable that as the storm worsens, so does the sexual tension between them. Calixta eventually becomes as unsettled as the elements outside. Concerned with Bobinôt and Bibi’s safety, Calixta goes and peers out the window, Alcée joins her.

Read More

Pathetic Fallacy In Julius Caesar

498 Words | 2 Pages

1. The storm is at it’s height during the first part of the scene, when Casca meets Cicero and tells him of all the fearful things he has seen. The thunder and lightning enhance the ominous mood that is already set. It reflects the emotions of Casca, who is restless and fearful due to the sights he has seen.

Read More

How Does Shakespeare Use Language And Environmental Effect In Act 1

151 Words | 1 Pages

The characters that comment on the storm are mariners, alluding to Ursa Minor and stars used for navigation;

Read More

Isolation In The Virgin Suicides

1501 Words | 7 Pages

The nature of the storm represents the characters’ isolation from one another, but also the deterioration of relationships and family structures. The storm emphasises the isolation that is already present in the characters lives. As a result of the dismemberment of the family unit, it is evident that Elena, Paul and Wendy try to counteract and find comfort for the feeling of isolation through traditional media forms. For example, Elena finds comfort from isolation through reading books in the library: “Reading was a brave spiritual journey for Elena Hood, and little piles of books were for her like the stacks of rubble—the Tibetan prayer walls—that marked the progress of pilgrims” (Moody, 52). Paul finds comfort through his comic books by comparing his family to characters he so often reads about.

Read More

The Storm Character Analysis

790 Words | 4 Pages

In addition to her marriage that she is bound into she also displays her sexual needs and desire to be with Alcee. When the storm draws closer to her little shack house, you can see that maybe the storm has a hidden background meaning or innuendo. When Alcee rides up on his horse to Calixtas ' home, she changes from anxious to trying to seduce him. So, as you can see Calixta then changes from an anxious, stressed, housewife to a seductive, sexual and burning hot lover to Alcee.

Read More

Storm Warnings Poem Analysis

725 Words | 3 Pages

The use of imagery in "Storm Warnings" conveys the literal and metaphorical meanings of the oncoming physical and emotional storms. Rich uses to imagery show the anxiety she is feeling about the storm in the beginning. For example, "The glass has been falling all the afternoon," and, "gray unrest moving across the land. " Both of these images have negative connotations, which show what she is feeling and what she sees.

Read More

More about How Does Kate Chopin Create Tension In The Storm

Open Document