Characterism And Symbolism In Kate Chopin's The Storm

In Kate Chopin’s “The Storm”, she offers an intoxicating account of two souls awakened by a storm. The story was composed on July 19, 1898. At this time in history women were considered objects, their sole purpose in life was to serve their husbands. In addition, social stratification was an important aspect of society that determined who they married. Calixta’s marriage could have been a product of an arrangement, making it of unnatural origin. Chopin points out singular characteristics of the storm to shed light on the uncommon strength of a marriage when it is not determined by social norms. Consequently, Chopin brings Calixta and Alceé together to embellish their passion, in which Calixta plays an active role rather than a submissive one.

It filled all visible space with a blinding glare and the crash seemed to invade the very boards they stood upon”(122-123). In this scene Chopin makes allusion to their principles, which they both stood upon firmly prior to the affair and how they were invaded and trembled by the storm. The lighting bolt serves as imagery of two bold souls in an explosion of liveliness and ardor. The setting contributes in a change in the character’s personal perspective by blurring out their morals. For example, this idea is expressed when Chopin describes their interaction: “When he touched her breasts they gave themselves up in quivering ecstasy, inviting his lips. Her mouth was a fountain of delight” (123). The storm conceals their present lives and allows them to reminisce about the past. An example of this is when Alceé says: “Do you remember in Assumption, Calixta?” With the storm come the memories, and an opportunity they did not have when they met in Assumption. The rain covers their tracks washing off their sin, metaphorically as well as

Chopin gives off the impression that she is in favor of Calixta’s decision to actively engage in an affair. Chopin tackles the theme of female sexuality present at the time by allowing Calixta to crave sexual enjoyment with Alceé. In the 1800’s, like all women of her period Calixta grew unaware of her desires as a direct result of society. During that time women never acted upon their desires but rather played a submissive role in a sexual encounter omitting their needs to succumb to their male counterparts. Chopin identifies Calixtas’s ardent personality when she says: “she felt very warm and on her face perspiration gathered in beads” and “she unfastened her white sacque at the throat”(122). In this scene Calixta shows her devotion for sewing. Chopin parades Calixta as a very fervent woman who is eager to love and be loved when she says: “The generous abundance of her passion, without guile or trickery, was like a white flame which penetrated and found response in depths of his own sensuous nature that had never been reached” (123). In this excerpt Chopin alludes to the nature of their passion and the vigorous interaction that came with