Natural Imagery In Kate Chopin's 'The Storm'

Kate Chopin wrote The Storm in 1898 about a woman who had an adulterous fling with an old lover during a storm. Calixta and Bobinot have been married for 5 years and have one son named, Bibi. On a hot afternoon Bobinot, and Bibi walked to the store on afternoon and left Calixta at home sewing. Durring the time they were gone a storm brewed up and as she was out gathering the clothes her old lover rode up and took shelter with her until the storm had passed. The usage of natural imagery is astounding in showing the time period, the day of the storm, and the lack of remorse. “She sat a side a window sewing furiously on a sewing machine.” This shows that it was in a time where you still made most all of your clothes and linens. Her husband’s …show more content…
Chopin talks about the air out side as “The leaves were so still that even Bibi knew it was going to rain.” As she was sewing by the window she realized how hot and dark it had gotten. “The rain beat upon the low, shingled roof with a force and clatter that threatened to break an entrance and deluge them there.” She was scared for her husband and son and hoped they had found shelter from the cyclone. As she was standing by the window the rain was coming down in sheets, and lightning struck the Chinaberry tree. “Crashing torrents and the roar of the elements”. It was then, that she was frightened for her own life. It was so hot she was wiping the sweat off her face and the windows were fogging up because it was hot. It was raining so much that she had to put something underneath the door to keep the rain out. So let’s recap thus far, its blazing hot in south Louisiana, the rain is coming down in sheets, lightning strikes, wind is blowing so hard that its shaking the house, and rain is coming in underneath the door. Does that sound like a place and time you would like to …show more content…
As it was starting to rain she went outside to take her husband’s church clothes off the clothes line, it did not say she took any of her clothes off. Therefore, she didn’t wash any of her clothes. As if she didn’t care about looking her best because she didn’t feel the same way about going to church. It was there that she saw her old lover Alcee Laballiere ride through the gate. She had not seen since she had gotten married and certainly not alone. She had gained weight since he last saw her, she had let herself go a little. When the lightning struck the tree it scared her and she fell back into his arms. “Her lips were as red and moist as pomegranate seed” As soon as she was in his arms all her frightfulness went away. She was renewed by his touch and warmth. When the rain stopped the sun was shining and glistening as she watched him ride away. “She lifted her pretty chin in the air and laughed allowed.” She then started preparing dinner and had it on the table for when her husband and son returned home, as if nothing had ever happened. She grabbed her son and kissed him “effusively”. Her husband had given her the can of shrimps he bought for her and she “gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek” She was so happy to see her son and was more excited about the shrimp than what she was to see her husband. Alcee wrote a letter to his wife to tell her to stay a little longer in Biloxi. As to say, no need