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How Does Kate Chopin Create Tension In The Storm

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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 a more than 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

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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

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Calixta began to worry deeply about her missing family. She become hysteric the feeling of uneasiness overcoming her. Calixta turns to Alcee for comfort but what started as a simple embrace soon turned into much more. Women who are engaged in an unfulfilling marriage like Calixta will turn to other men for comfort and intimacy.

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Kate Chopin’s “The Storm” centers around a woman called Calixta; who has a sexual encounter with a former lover in midst of a storm. The storm centers on lost love and being in unwanted marriages. The raging storm outside the house unfolds simultaneously with the emotional and sexual passion between Calixta and Alcée. Throughout the story, Chopin inverts gender roles, specifically in terms of sexuality. Chopin presents that women should experience desire and act on it, just as men have been allowed to do

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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.

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“The Storm”: An Inconsequential Affair Sheds Light On the Reality Of Marriage “The Storm” is a short story written by the infamous societal rule breaker Kate Chopin. Like her other stories, “The Storm” mentions a rather socially taboo subject for the late 19th century: a secret affair. In “The Storm”, the main character, Calixta, is home alone while her husband, Bobinôt, and child, Bibi, are shopping, when suddenly a thunderstorm approaches. Just as it’s about to pour, a former “friend”, Alcée Laballière, comes riding in seeking shelter.

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