Literary Elements In Kate Chopin's 'The Storm'

326 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Kate chopin the storm criticism

In her narrative, "The Storm", author Kate Chopin utilizes the setting of the story to create a parallel between the titular storm and a passionate affair between two lovers. In the beginning of the story, the storm begins to surge when Calixta, a married wife and mother, sees her former aquaintance, Alcée start towards her house. Chopin uses this scene to depict the storm as both a literary concept in the story and a symbol for the impending affair between the two. Later, as Calixta is looking out the window, a violent flash of lightning sends her aback into Alcée's arms. In this case, Chopin uses the lightning to symbolize the "bolt" of passion that leads to the affair. Alcée, trying to comfort Clalixta, says "Don't be frightened. Nothing

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of The Storm By Elijah Paschelke

    317 Words  | 1 Pages

    In his piece “The Storm” Elijah Paschelke reflects upon his 7 months in solitary confinement. He states that he “will never see the world the way I did before,” and then continues “I will never not see it the way I did before.” This statement suggests that he used to not notice the world around him, hence “not seeing”. He vows that he will never live the way that he did before because his time in prison has made him more appreciative of the smaller things in life.

    Read More

  • Analyzing Calixta In Kate Chopin's The Storm

    1140 Words  | 3 Pages

    The world has always known that women were not given all of their rights. During the 19th century and even before then, most of the time women were just forced to do what they were told and what the society expected from them. Women didn’t get to make their own choices. They couldn’t fall in love, work, or be part of the society in any possible way. They were born to get old, marry, and take care of their husbands, house, and kids. Kate Chopin was one of the authors who wrote multiple stories about women and feminism. In Kate Chopin’s “The Storm,” Calixta was married, but when she saw Alcee she ignored the fact that she was married and she committed adultery with him. Kate Chopin describes how Calixta is unhappy with her married life, and how she finds happiness in adultery.

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Analysis of Kate Chopin's The Storm

    687 Words  | 2 Pages

    The short story “The Storm” by Kate Chopin, deals with the subject of adultery. The story takes place in the early 1900’s. There are two main characters, Calixta (the wife) and Alcee (the former lover). Alcee must take refuge from a passing storm in Calixta’s house, while he is there the two end up making love while Calixta’s husband and son have to wait out the storm at the local store. By doing this Chopin implies the theme that is, adultery is natural and does not necessarily have negative consequences. Through out the story the constant changing of imagery plays a great role in the development of characters and their ability to demonstrate the theme.

    Read More

  • Characterism And Symbolism In Kate Chopin's The Storm

    1218 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Foreshadowing in Kate Chopin's The Storm

    1069 Words  | 3 Pages

    Effectively using foreshadowing in a piece of literature enhances the reader's curiosity. One clear example of such usage is seen in Kate Chopin's writing. Her use of foreshadowing in the short story  "The Storm" adds an element of intrigue, holding the reader's interest throughout. In this story a father and son, Bobinôt and Bibi, are forced to remain in the store where they were shopping, waiting for an approaching storm to pass. Meanwhile, the wife and mother, Calixta, remaining at home, receives an unexpected visit from a former lover of hers, Alcée. The two lovers ultimately consummate their relationship. Alcée then departs once the storm subsides, at which time the father and son return home. No repercussions of the extramarital affair take place within the story.

    Read More

  • Kate Chopin's The Storm and The Story of an Hour

    1085 Words  | 3 Pages

    'The Storm' begins on a stormy spring day, with the protagonist Calixta at her sewing machine. She is alone, her husband Bobinot and son Bibi have gone to the store. Calixta seems to be a bored woman, confined to her duties as a housewife and mother. As the distant storm approaches she is unaware of what the storm brings, her former lover Alcee. Calixta allows Alcee into her home and opens her whole world to him. There is a connection between the storm that is going on outside and the storm of emotions going on in Calixta and Alcee. The weather sends Calixta into Alcee?s arms, he wraps his arms around her, and they can no longer hide their feelings for one another. They gave into their raging emotions and made love. Outside the weather was subsiding and Calixta and Alcee?s bodies felt relaxed and calmed. ?The rain was over; and the sun was turning the glistening green world into a palace of gems.? (1614) His face beamed with light like the sun. The storm inside of her was satisfied and for a brief instant Calixta felt liberated from her ordinary dull life.

    Read More

  • The Storm Symbolism Essay

    546 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The rain beat upon the low, shingled roof with a force and clatter that threatened to break an entrance and deluge them there.” is an example of this passion that the storm is showing between the two. Chopin is describing how the passion between Calixta and Alcee is overflowing, and dared anyone to enter the room to break the passion that was so strong between them. Another quote from the narrator is “They did not heed the crashing torrents and the roar of the elements made her laugh as she lay in his arms.”. This quote is explaining the storm, but it is also explaining how Alcee and Calixta were overlooking the storm and concentrating on one

    Read More

  • Views on Sex and Marriage Depicted in Kate Chopin's The Storm

    1308 Words  | 3 Pages

    A storm can represent and symbolize many different meanings. The impact of the word can be brought about in many different views and aspects that arrange themselves to create and portray detailed information and great definition to the subject of the short story as a whole. By using the storm as a symbol, it gives way to a passage that will encounter the relationship and parallel aspect of both the fervent thunder that occurs and the sexual passion that is encountered throughout the story. Kate Chopin opens up an interesting view and tentative explanation of human sexuality and the strong point of view of regulations placed on human sexuality as well as the aspect of trying to control a storm. By tying up these two ideas with one word, Kate Chopin was able to provide a view that would symbolize the premise of desires through variations of the storm.

    Read More

  • A Love Affair in The Storm by Kate Chopin

    339 Words  | 1 Pages

    Kate Chopin's "The Storm", is a short story about a brief love affair that takes place during a storm that has separated Calixta with her husband and son. The title "The Storm" is an obvious reference to the storm outside, but more importantly to the love affair that takes place. The title refers to nature, which is symbolically used again and again in the story. Chopin uses words like "somber clouds", "threatening roar", and "sinister intentions" to describe the approaching storm. Later in the story those same words in reference to the storm outside, will also be represented symbolically to the storm brewing inside with the love affair. In the beginning of the story Bobinot and his son Bibi stay at a store to let the storm pass by. Calixta, the wife , is at home by herself doing some chores around the house. As the storm starts to approach, Alcee rides in and asks Calixta if he could come in until the storm passes. It starts to rain immediately after he arrives. It's important to know that Alcee and Calixta had past together which he brings up to her later in the story. It is also stated that she has never seen him alone. The storm starts to increase outside, reflecting the sexual tension inside. The storm's sinister intention appears when "The rain beat upon the shingled roof that threatened to break an entrance...". It seems that the storm knows what is going on between the two and is threatening to break in and ruin their chances. They move through out the house and end up in the bedroom "with its white, monumental bed, its closed shutters, looked dim and mysterious. The bed being white symbolizes purity. The two then make their way to the window to watch the storm outside when lightning strikes nearby, falling back into his arms. The storm in a sense seems to be forcing them together now. They then embrace each other in the peek of the storm where things really start to get stormy in the love affair. The two then start making out yahda, yahda, yahda. The thunder is now distant and passing away. The storm outside turns into a soft, lighter rain, being symbolic that the storm is ending.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Storm By Kate Chopin

    716 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout history writers have offered readers lessons through themes and often symbolized. In the story, “The Storm” by Kate Chopin is quite different from “The Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid; both have a different theme, symbol, throughout the stories. “The Storm” in Kate Chopin 's story can symbolize a number of different things: temporary, fleeting and quick action, and without consequences.

    Read More

  • Spunk By Zora Neale Hurston Analysis

    1301 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The Storm”, by Kate Chopin, is a short story about a woman who has intercourse with an old boyfriend, while her husband and son are at the store. While a storm is passing by Alcée happens to stop by and stays at Calixta’s during the storm. The two commit adultery, but never tell anyone. While there are many similarities between these two stories, there are also several differences.

    Read More

  • Literary Elements of The Storm by Kate Chopin

    885 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...way that the story is being interpreted and how the storm influences the story as a whole. Sometimes people need a wakeup call or a 'storm' to make them aware of how good they have things. In this short story Alcee and Calixta both come to realization of how good they have things with their spouses and how that they already found the ones that they love, which weren't each other. This made me aware of how we as people can take things for granted or believing we know what’s best for us. In reality we don't always know what’s best until something occurs and shows us that what we already have is the best.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Storm By Kate Chopin

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    Calixta and Alce, the two main characters in the short story “The Storm” by Kate Chopin, are sexual, mature, and knowing adults. By having them discover amazing sex outside their marriages, they return to their own marriages renewed. Chopin openly condones adultery due to the fact that the characters are not punished and in the end “everyone was happy” (paragraph 40) . A common theme of fresh sexuality and desire is seen in this story though symbols and other literary elements. Kate Chopin is an American author that wrote short stories and novels in the 20th century.

    Read More

  • Imagery And Symbolism In Kate Chopin's 'The Storm'

    1113 Words  | 3 Pages

    These two themes are built upon two main characters. Even the smallest details of these characters bring out the themes in a way that can only give the story a happy ending. Calixta still has a place in her heart for Alce, her prince charming, which gives the affair a chance to happen. The overall story is symbolized through the color white and the passing storm which intensifies all of the emotions in the story. “The Storm” was a controversial story that many did not approve of when it was first written. Today it is appreciated, along with most of Chopin’s work, as an important part of the feminine

    Read More

  • Criticism of The Storm by Kate Chopin

    651 Words  | 2 Pages

    Criticism of The Storm by Kate Chopin While it has traditionally been men who have attached the "ball and chain" philosophy to marriage, Kate Chopin gave readers a woman’s view of how repressive and confining marriage can be for a woman, both spiritually and sexually. While many of her works incorporated the notion of women as repressed beings ready to erupt into a sexual a hurricane, none were as tempestuous as The Storm. Kate Chopin was a woman whose feminist viewpoints were far ahead of her time, which of course garnered her more than her share of criticism. In a time when women were expected to behave "properly" and sexual desire was considered to be something only experienced by men, Chopin spoke with exceptional openness about human sexuality.

    Read More

More about Literary Elements In Kate Chopin's 'The Storm'

Open Document