“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. As one might have imagined, Calixta and Alcée have a history together and in the downpour reignite their passion. As soon as it started, it was over, along with the storm, and her husband and child return home. …show more content…
The purpose of the affair was shown to the reader with their history, “‘Do you rememberin Assumption, Calixta?’ he asked in a low voice broken by passion. Oh! she remembered; for in Assumption he had kissed her and kissed and kissed her; until his senses would well nigh fail, and to save her he would resort to a desperate flight.” (Chopin II), this reveals that Calixta and Alcée knew each other before the affair; they both grew up in the same place, named Assumption. Calixta and Alcée were dating, but they hadn’t slept together before the affair. Calixta’s thoughts show the reader how the affair went completely unknown and swept beneath the rug; when Bobinôt and Bibi get home they both worry about what Caltixa will say about their clothes covered in mud, but she is in a good mood and is relieved to see them. She repeatedly kisses Bobinôt and is ecstatic over the shrimp he brought her for dinner, this shows the happiness she found in her family, “Bobinôt and Bibi began to relax and enjoy themselves, and when the three seated themselves at table they laughed much and so loud that anyone might have heard them as far away as Laballire's.” (Chopin III). Alcée also has a good evening alone, he writes his wife and kids a loving letter because they’re staying with family in Biloxi. When she responds to the letter, her thoughts admit she loves him but is happy for a break, “Devoted as she was to her husband, their intimate conjugal life was something which she was more than willing to forego for a while.” (Chopin V) she was also tired of sleeping with him, which is ironic because he had an affair with his former girlfriend, Calixta. The reader is left realizing that love and commitment to someone doesn’t mean you’re always loyal to them, the ugly truth