The two main characters in Kate Chopin’s short story “The Storm” have a flirtatious relationship many years before the story actually takes place. They made more appropriate choices for marriage, reflective of the time of this story when women and men married within their social and economic circles. During the story which represents the present, the characters are re-living that passionate time. This is the simple plot on the surface. There is a deeper and more important meaning to this piece. “The Storm” illustrates the constraints of the sexual standards of the late 19th Century, but in the end human nature dominates over societal applied gender roles.
Imagery is used by Chopin to illustrate “The Story”. A storm signifies restlessness, conflict, discomfort, and chaos. Throughout the story, the rise of the stormy weather mirrors the build-up of sexual tension between Calixta and Alcee. An example of this is the first raindrops fell as soon as Alcee was riding past Calixta’s home, sending him into her estate looking for refuge (203). Another example is when the lightning from the storm struck the chinaberry tree causing Calixta to jump into Alcee’s arms who was at the time standing next to her (204). Even the title of the story, “The Storm”, refers to Mother Nature which is a feminine symbol. Therefore, …show more content…
The roots of early feminism trace back to the early 20th Century, but Chopin challenges the role of women in marriage with this short story written in the late 19th Century. She chose not to publish the piece while she was alive, probably because it would have been rejected, deemed inappropriate according to traditional gender roles at that time. It was published decades later after being found in her grandson’s attic. Chopin taught us that Mother Nature is a force that cannot be defined by labels or
Imagery is used by Chopin to illustrate “The Story”. A storm signifies restlessness, conflict, discomfort, and chaos. Throughout the story, the rise of the stormy weather mirrors the build-up of sexual tension between Calixta and Alcee. An example of this is the first raindrops fell as soon as Alcee was riding past Calixta’s home, sending him into her estate looking for refuge (203). Another example is when the lightning from the storm struck the chinaberry tree causing Calixta to jump into Alcee’s arms who was at the time standing next to her (204). Even the title of the story, “The Storm”, refers to Mother Nature which is a feminine symbol. Therefore, …show more content…
The roots of early feminism trace back to the early 20th Century, but Chopin challenges the role of women in marriage with this short story written in the late 19th Century. She chose not to publish the piece while she was alive, probably because it would have been rejected, deemed inappropriate according to traditional gender roles at that time. It was published decades later after being found in her grandson’s attic. Chopin taught us that Mother Nature is a force that cannot be defined by labels or