Divorce In Kate Chopin's The Storm

Divorce in the twenty-first century is quite common, with 40 to 50 percent of all marriages ultimately ending in divorce. What are the reasons why that rate is so high? Although it may vary for each persons’ marriage the common reasons are usually for lack of interest, infidelity, abuse, or even possibly for religious reasons. In the eyes of some people, it is a sinful action to get a divorce, but to others, it may be an action that is needed for the individuals in the marriage to live a happier life. However, in Kate Chopin’s story “The Storm,” a course of actions take place, leading a person to believe that the marriages in the story will come to an end. Taking place in the late 1800s Southern Louisiana, Chopin creates an intense atmosphere and a devious mood to influence the characters to commit infidelity. Two of the characters, Alcee and Calixta, do in fact commit the ultimate betrayal — adultery. In a typical marriage, the sinful actions that these two characters committed would have destroyed a marriage, nevertheless, that is not what necessarily occurs in “The Storm.” Although neither Calixta’s husband nor Alcee’s …show more content…
Calixta and her family live in an average house in Louisiana, where she is the caretaker of their home. In that home, however, is where Calixta chooses to participate in an affair. With the setting of the affair being there, it proves that Calixta was very comfortable with the whole situation. Without knowing when Bobinot, her husband, would come home, it created a suspenseful mood. Along with the aching possibility that Calixta would have been exposed, the storm that was occurring mimicked the intensity of the situation. As the sex between Calixta and Alcee continued, the storm also continued along with lightening and roaring thunder. The storm was not expected to occur, so therefore it was a very rare circumstance, just like their