The sexual independence of women has for a long time, through history and even modern days, been under strict criticism and censorship by the public. Married women are the most censored and watched as they try to bring love, excitement and passion into their lives at all costs; even if it means breaking one’s marital vows. Audiences meet one such woman in the short story ‘The Storm’ written by Kate Chopin. Calixta, though married to Bobinot, relives the love she has for Alcee and commits adultery in her matrimonial home during a storm. Calixta’s husband and son were away shopping at the time. Calixta’s act of adultery will most undoubtedly receive the harshest reprimand from most audiences but a keener look into the dynamic character of Calixta
…show more content…
She is not depicted as a lay-about in the first scene that is simply waiting for the return of her husband and son. Kate Chopin describes the fury at which she worked at the sewing machine: “She sat at a side window, sewing furiously on a sewing machine. She was greatly occupied and did not notice the approaching storm” (Chopin 105). Contrary to the expected norms at the time where Calixta was expected to have very few or no occupation at all besides looking after one’s husband and family, she seems to be doing quite fine in ameliorating her personal interest in sewing. She is also quite adept at taking good care of her household consisting of her husband and son Bibi. Upon their return from shopping at Friedheimer’s store, she was hard at work preparing supper and had already set the table for them: “Calixta was preparing supper. She had set the table and was dripping coffee at the hearth” (Chopin 108). Despite her own self sufficiency, she does not falter in her obligations to her family. She is conscious of their basic needs and is even termed as over scrupulous by Chopin. All these are the markings of a well balanced woman who does not allow the sense of duty within her to over ride her passions. Sarah Bommarito writes in an article of the expectations of women in Chopin’s time: “Culturally, Chopin wrote in a time characterized by many restrictions …show more content…
She is foremost a mother and a wife. Her four year old son, Bibi, and husband Bobinot are important figures in her life. She is mentioned as being too scrupulous when it comes to family matters. On their way back home, Bobinot and Bibi stop at a cistern to make themselves more presentable before going back home to avoid vexing Calixta: “My! Bibi, wa’t will yo’ mamma say! You ought to be ashame!” (Chopin 108). It speaks volumes of the reputation Calixta holds as a mother and husband; the respect she demands from her family is given without any quarrel. At home, she holds her fort by performing the necessary chores that befit a mother. Just before the storm, we see her going out to remove Bobinot’s Sunday clothes that she had hung outside to air: “Out on the small front gallery she had hung Bobinot’s Sunday clothes to air and she hastened out to gather them before the rain fell” (Chopin 105). Her composure in receiving Bibi and Bobinot also speaks volumes of her aptitude in keeping secrets. It is safe to assume that Calixta is indeed a refined intellectual. She shows no signs of guilt or uneasiness. She behaves in the normal and caring way she has always been to her
She is not depicted as a lay-about in the first scene that is simply waiting for the return of her husband and son. Kate Chopin describes the fury at which she worked at the sewing machine: “She sat at a side window, sewing furiously on a sewing machine. She was greatly occupied and did not notice the approaching storm” (Chopin 105). Contrary to the expected norms at the time where Calixta was expected to have very few or no occupation at all besides looking after one’s husband and family, she seems to be doing quite fine in ameliorating her personal interest in sewing. She is also quite adept at taking good care of her household consisting of her husband and son Bibi. Upon their return from shopping at Friedheimer’s store, she was hard at work preparing supper and had already set the table for them: “Calixta was preparing supper. She had set the table and was dripping coffee at the hearth” (Chopin 108). Despite her own self sufficiency, she does not falter in her obligations to her family. She is conscious of their basic needs and is even termed as over scrupulous by Chopin. All these are the markings of a well balanced woman who does not allow the sense of duty within her to over ride her passions. Sarah Bommarito writes in an article of the expectations of women in Chopin’s time: “Culturally, Chopin wrote in a time characterized by many restrictions …show more content…
She is foremost a mother and a wife. Her four year old son, Bibi, and husband Bobinot are important figures in her life. She is mentioned as being too scrupulous when it comes to family matters. On their way back home, Bobinot and Bibi stop at a cistern to make themselves more presentable before going back home to avoid vexing Calixta: “My! Bibi, wa’t will yo’ mamma say! You ought to be ashame!” (Chopin 108). It speaks volumes of the reputation Calixta holds as a mother and husband; the respect she demands from her family is given without any quarrel. At home, she holds her fort by performing the necessary chores that befit a mother. Just before the storm, we see her going out to remove Bobinot’s Sunday clothes that she had hung outside to air: “Out on the small front gallery she had hung Bobinot’s Sunday clothes to air and she hastened out to gather them before the rain fell” (Chopin 105). Her composure in receiving Bibi and Bobinot also speaks volumes of her aptitude in keeping secrets. It is safe to assume that Calixta is indeed a refined intellectual. She shows no signs of guilt or uneasiness. She behaves in the normal and caring way she has always been to her