Analysis of “The Storm” by Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin's “The Storm" presents us with a story focused on two main characters, Calixta and
Alcee and their brief love affair. The story is set in the nineteenth century at Friedheimer’s store
in Louisiana. The story starts with the introduction of two individuals Bobinot and his young son
Bibi. Being the breadwinner of the family, Bobinot is expected to purchase goods for the
household. They are trapped in the middle of a storm and therefore decide to take shelter at the
store.

Calixta, wife of Bobinot is alone at home and being a housewife, attends the household chores.
In this story, the writer Kate Chopin has used the word "storm" in its symbolic meaning. The
Storm can be interpreted as a strong and intense sexual desire and passion. It also symbolizes the
natural tendency of the human beings towards sexual passion. Calixta appears to be restless,
unsatisfied and lacks a sense of control and power in her marital life. When the storm arrives,
Calixta is sewing a cotton sheet and seems to be deeply involved in other household tasks.

While Calixta is airing out the clothes on the porch, Alcee enters the yard seeking shelter from
the coming storm. Calixta and Alcee, both married had an affair long before the story took place.
When Alcee approaches Calixta asking for shelter, Calixta was deeply focused in her household
chores. The writer describes Calixta's suppressed emotions and passions for Alcee which were
now aroused after the encounter between both of them. Constrained by the boundaries set by her
marital status, Calixta had not seen Alcee very often after her marriage and never alone. She
allows him inside and talks excitedly about the stuff going on at her place and also talks about
her preparation for the storm helping to demonstrate the arousing sexual tension that she is
feeling while Alcee is around.

The storm outside continues its intensity reflecting the arousing sexual desire inside between
both of the characters. Calixta finds herself being unsettled as the elements outside in the storm.
They both move to a window to watch the storm, and when lightning strikes nearby, Calixta
staggers backward into Alcee's arms. This moment can be termed as the climax of the story when
both of the individuals embrace each other letting out their inner passions and desires. Chopin
uses the image of the "strike of the lightning" to represent this strong passion. At that moment,
she retreats and immediately feels concerned about her son signifying the mixed feelings that
Calixta had at that moment. Like a force driven by nature, Calixta does not resist the sexual
encounter with Alcee and easily submits to Alcee's move. It was if they were never apart and
were longing for love and companionship. It seems as if Calixta wanted a relief from the
pressures of her married life. Their passion grows stronger just like the storm beating down the
barriers of the house. Their feelings arouse so much that they hardly resist the temptation. Calixta
thoroughly enjoys her sexual role as much as Alcee does. The intensity of their sexual act can be
symbolized from the pattern of the storm. After the sexual encounter or symbolically, the passing
of the storm, Alcee leaves Calixta's house, and both appear happy. The storm on the outside
comes to a halt and they both are left replenished and fresh like the nature. When Bobinot returns
home with his son, everything seems perfectly normal as if nothing happened at all. Her
concerns about their safely returning home, kissing Bibi and her husband and then enjoying
themselves at the table signify that Calixta did not intend to ruin her marital life and cared for her
family. Calixta's morality did not allow her to share this experience with her husband. Only by
putting aside the boundaries of her marriage, Calixta was able to explore her inner sexuality. On
the other hand, Alcee also returns to his home and writes a letter to his wife concerning about her
health and advises her to enjoy the vacation. He states that he is also enjoying his life and she
should do the same as well. Like Calixta, he also does not disclose his secret of the sexual
encounter between him and Calixta to her wife. Both of the characters continue to live a normal
life and play their gender roles in their respective marriages.

Living in a society which does not morally allow sharing this kind of encounter with others, both
Alcee and Calixta are expected to continue their marital life and remain faithful with their
families. Chopin confronts the theme of femininity and complexities of the married status in
"The Storm". The story is concluded by the sentence, “So the storm passed and everyone was
happy.” This sentence reflects the strong relationship that Calixta and Bobnot share and provides
us with a glimpse of the emotional bond between them. Kate Chopin is of the view that although
a woman’s sexuality and feminist desire is suppressed by the constraints of her married life but
sometimes it is dealt with a renewed sense of commitment to embrace her family as in the case
of Calixta who allowed herself to fulfill her sexual desires without straining her marital life.