The Misleading Message of Chopins The Storm Essay

The Misleading Message of Chopins The Storm nbsp; Kate Chopinsnbsp; The Storm focuses on two simultaneous and related storms, one a fierce tempest of the natural world with the expected rain, wind, lightening, and thunder, the other a cyclone of the mind and heart which results in an short love affair between the two main characters. With her husband Bobinot and her son Bibi stranded in town by the storm, Calixta finds herself at home alone when an old lover, Alcee, rides up. The storm, the worst in two years, drives the two indoors, where, though they have not met in five years, they soon are embracing each other. As the storm outside reaches a climax, the emotions in the house spike to a fever pitch, and, though not directly†¦show more content†¦Most literature and my own life experiences bear this out, and I would challenge the reader to find an instance where the outcome of adultery did not fall into one of the above-mentioned broad categories. nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Chopin, however, does not fit her story into either pattern. Instead, she makes it clear that the affair has at least a short-term beneficial effect on all those touched by it. Calixta seemed much lighter of spirit because of it, thus causing her not to scold Bobinot and Bibi for coming home muddy; Alcee is happy to stay in town without his wife Clarisse and (as is insinuated) continue the relationship with Calixta; and Clarisse iss relieved not to have to leave her friends in Biloxi. As Chopin saidnbsp; The storm passed and everyone was happy.nbsp;nbsp; (p.669) nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; One might argue that the author is being ironic in this last sentence. Thenbsp; happinessnbsp; described is intended by Chopin to by an illusion that will not last long, but instead the adulterersnbsp; actions willShow MoreRelatedStory of an Hour by Lawrence L. Berkove3379 Words   |  14 PagesLawrence L. Berkove (essay date winter 2000) SOURCE: Berkove, Lawrence L. â€Å"Fatal Self-Assertion in Kate Chopins ‘The Story of an Hour.’† American Literary Realism 32, no. 2 (winter 2000): 152-58. [In the following essay, Berkove contends that Chopins narration of â€Å"The Story of an Hour† is ironic rather than straightforward.] Kate Chopins thousand-word short story, â€Å"The Story of an Hour,† has understandably become a favorite selection for collections of short stories as well as for anthologiesRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesthe level of gaiety. Intensity was more usually reached by way of the solemn than by way of the brilliant, and such a sort of intensity was often arrived at during winter darkness, tempests, and mists. Then Egdon was aroused to reciprocity; for the storm was its lover, and the wind its friend. Then it became the home of strange phantoms; and it was found to be the hitherto unrecognized original of those wild regions of obscurity which are vaguely felt to be compassing us about in midnight dreams of