(An analysis “The Storm” by Kate Chopin)
Before presenting a short story, I’d like to give one of my assumptions touching upon the date of publishing this story. The thing is that Chopin wrote it in 1898 but it was published much later – in 1969. Probably this is because of the theme which she touches upon. From the first glance “The Storm” is about unfaithfulness; in the beginning of 20-th century, it wasn’t typical to discuss such a topic. That’s why the reader could get to know this narration only in 71 years.
Speaking about the story itself, the main characters are Bibinot, his wife Calixta (a principle character), their son Bibi. More over, in the beginning of the story one of the Calixta’s ex – lovers appears, named Alicee.
One day Bibinot and Bibi were at the store when a storm began. They decided to be there while it was strongly raining. At the same time Calixta did her handwork at home. When the storm stroke, she remembered about some Bibi’s clothes which dried outside.
Calixta went out and met Alicee who helped her to remove all those clothes home. She invited him to stay at her before the storm stopped. He agreed. Alicee remind her about the passion which they had already tried some time ago. That feeling increased at the moment when the storm became stronger, and then, it was over by the end of the storm. Alicee left her house.
Soon Bibinot and Bibi turned back home. Calixta greeted them with hugging. At that time Alicee wrote the letter to his wife where he underlined her importance in his life.
The quotes “So the storm passed and every one was happy” end the story.
Bibinot and Alicee were the two men presented in Calixta’s life. But both treated her differently: The first one saw in her an ideal housewife who could do everything sake for the family; As for Alicee, he was that man who looked at Calixta like an attractive woman gifted with youthful beauty.
This way, that storm was a symbol of the Alicee and Calixta’s passion. It let her feel her sexuality which she once possessed. (This fact reminds of a same – named novel by the Russian writer N. Ostrovsky. There’s a storm (having begun also suddenly) symbolizes something which is very important, the thing which leaves a great impact in life).
One of the most appreciated features is that both the thunderstorm and the splash of their passion happened suddenly and simultaneously. As a result, Calixta was able to look at her marriage in a different way: She realized that a marriage could turn out to be repressive by both spiritual and sexual means.
Through this story Kate Chopin shows that women shouldn’t be expected to behave like their husbands tell them. Sexual desire is also typical for women because they’re as human beings as men. That’s way it’s fair to call “The Storm” a feminist novel.