Similarities and Differences in Two Short Stories

Kate Chopin was born Katherine O’Flaherty on February 8, 1850 in St. Louis Missouri (213). Chopin had grown up in comfortable circumstances and began her life as a contemporary young woman (213). In 1888, six years after the death of her husband, Oscar Chopin, Kate subsequently became seriously committed to furthering her literary career (214). Chopin is oftentimes noted to be “a women who lived before her time, whose stories might be seen as a vindication of the rights of women, and an author whose literary works were controversial and unappreciated until many years later” (TheStorm&FeministPhilosophy.com). This description of Chopin’s work is distinctly evident in one of most distinguished short stories “The Storm”. Sarah Orne Jewett was born on September 3, 1849. Jewett began her writing career dedicated to writing poems and short stories for children; eventually she turned her attention to writing for adults (194). Through her mastery of “local-color” writing, Jewett emerged as one of the most respected authors in the United States (194). Jewett’s short story “The White Heron” vividly displays her use of “local-color”. Both “The Storm” and “The White Heron” embody a common theme of feminism, specifically the aspect of women’s choice. Although both works embody this theme, Chopin and Jewett take differing approaches in fulfilling it; “The Storm” takes a shockingly erotic approach in revealing the theme while The White Heron” takes a “softer” approach in exposing it.

Chopin wrote “The Storm” in July of 1898; this short story only became published after her death (1904) in The Complete Works of Kate Chopin (1969) (224). This short story illustrates the lives of two major characters Alcée and Calixta, but we will focus on Calixta’...

... middle of paper ...

...uly cares more for the well being of the bird. Sylvia has chosen loyalty to the bird instead of a potential relationship with the sportsman: “Dear loyalty, that suffered a sharp pang as the guest went away disappointed later in the day, that could have served and followed him and loved him as a dog does! ...Were the birds better friends than their hunter might have been – who can tell?” (202).

Both authors, despite their different approaches, incorporate a common theme, feminism. In “The Storm” Calixta willing decides to challenge her confining gender role, sincerely portraying the dynamic of feminism. Similarly in “The White Heron” Sylvia decides to keep the heron’s secret, constituting loyalty with nature instead of potential love with another. The vocation for feminism is found in both short stories, despite the authors’ different approaches in revealing it.