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The Storm
Introduction
The storm is a short story written by Kate Chopin. It could not get published in the writer’s life; it was later published in ‘The Complete Works of Kate Chopin’ in 1969. This story is set in the 19th century in South America. It takes place at Friedheimer’s store and the house of Calixta and Bobinot.
Plot
It starts with Bobinot and Bibi who are at the store and they are stuck inside as it starts raining heavily with a thunderous storm. They decide to stay in the store until the storm calms down. Bobinot is worried about Calixta, his wife and mother of Bibi, as she might be afraid of the storm. Calixta is at home and worries about his husband and son. She goes outside the house to fetch the clothes. There she finds a rider who asks her for shelter until the storm ends. Calixta recalls that he is her old beau, Alcee. He helps her gathering the laundry.
Calixta stands near the window to observe its intensity. She is disturbed by the storm and she is very likely to fall. Alcee comes forward and gives her a helping hand. Meanwhile, Alcee reminds her of the good time they had spent in the past, and memories come to Calixta’s mind all of a sudden. There emerges a lightening when a bolt hits a chinaberry tree outside the house. All the surroundings are filled with a dazzling light. Alcee embraces Calixta while they both feel the thunder down their feet. A sensation of lust runs through their bodies and they cannot resist the urge inside them. Their love for each other blooms and they indulge in sexual intercourse.
The storm passes over as soon as their session of love-making ends. Alcee rides away and both of them have smiles on their faces. After a while, Bobinot and Bibi arrive at home. Calixta embraces them and Bobinot gives her a can of shrimps as a gift. They plan for a feast at night. On the other side, Alcee writes a letter of affection to his wife, Clarisse, relieving her to continue her stay in Biloxi with their children. Clarisse is pleased to see the letter as she enjoys the liberty of being far away from the tensions of married life. The story ends stating that the storm takes away worries of everyone’s boring life.
Theme
‘The storm’ is a short story about the irresistible desire of sexual intimacy with a beloved. Calixta and Alcee have intense passion in their mutual relationship. This kind of excitement is missing in their married lives. The writer is indifferent to the morality of their relationship. She has portrayed the interaction between Calixta and Alcee as a natural outcome of emotional attachment between two young lovers. The story emphasizes the favorable after-effects of the sexual encounter that has occurred between the two young fellows during the storm. The happening of love-making fills the void in the lives of both friends.
Character
There are five characters in this short story: Calixta, Alcee, Bobinot, Bibi, and Clarisse. However, the most interesting and probably the main character of the story is Calixta. Her innocence has been symbolized as ‘pure’ and ‘white’ throughout the story. The color of her skin and her bed has been referred to with the word ‘white’, pointing to the innocence of the lady. The writer plainly says at one place that Calixta’s body knows for the very first time its birthright when she has a sexual encounter with a different man whom she is in love with. Calixta’s sexual urge has been symbolized with the storm as it gets intense when the storm erupts and it calms down when the storm is over. Calixta is happy after having this new experience and is much more into her family than before.
Conclusion
‘The Storm’ is a story of love and its essential outcomes such as happiness, satisfaction, and sexual encounter. The author describes the love scene by inflicting an essence of purity and innocence in it. Calixta is admirable all through the story. The marriages get a new spark after the occurrence of the sexual intercourse. Everything goes right as the storm moves on.
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