Essay 'The Storm'

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Date: October, 29, 2020
Essay ‘The Storm’
Society has a collection of universal principles without dispute, which it maintains and
wants all to obey. When members do them, there are many events and acts that society would
hold firm to denounce and find unethical. In culture, topics such as sexuality and relationships
moral depravity attract condemnation, and persons are not encouraged to address them publicly.
This mentality causes itself to neglect and take a blind eye to much of the unethical practices that
exist while society distances itself from addressing them honestly with evil misconduct. It
received cultural resistance as a sexually provocative novel when Kate Chopin published "The
Storm," which was not respectable according to social norms. And, in the same culture, she was
discussing specific circumstances that currently exist.
Allen Stein believes that the work of Chopin was sexually provocative and contradictory
to social standards, because it was inappropriate to readers at the time. Allen suggests that
incidents like the Alcee-Calixta affair undermine morality and are shocking. As her husband
Bobinot and son Bibi seek shelter at the supermarket just a few miles away waiting for the storm
to pass, Calixta embraces her ex lover Alcee to her house while they exchange kisses and make
love passionately. Stein proposes that perhaps the two are taking advantage of the swirling storm
to reinvigorate the relationship they had several years back as they were partners.
Allen Stein 's entire portrayal of Calixta attempts to depict her as just an unethical female
who has no regard of the relationship. in this woman, however, the feeling of liberation and
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liberty exceeds sexuality as hypocrisy. Women were constitutionally bound to marriage as an
institution as Chopin was composing the novel, and were under the influence of the husband.
There were notions in this culture that marginalized the female body. Sex and sexuality were
culturally constrained by caste and belief in the 19th century. Chopin takes out sex, sexuality,
and its ramifications in American society through "The Storm" as a topic of debate on its effect
on female gender (Borici 13). She agrees with the mindset that community has normalized the
idea that females remained the possessions of men and also they were anticipated to submit to
conventional conceptions of wedding that gave them domestic obligations, sexual obedience to
husbands, and the only reasons for their life were the production of children.
Likewise, Alcee has denied his wife of her marital rights; instead of seeing her, he
remains far away of her and only sends her a note. If she feel the need to do so, he advises her to
stay a bit longer. He's lied to his wife for missing her and for having to give her a great time. In
Biloxi, Alcee advises his wife to linger longer before visiting because he decided to buy more
time for Calixta to have an illegal affair. The distance between her and her husband appears to be
appreciated by Alcee 's wife, Clarisse. When her husband wants her to stay longer, she is pleased
(Chopin 5). Clarice loves the luxury of being a part of her husband, and she really does not regret
sharing sexual interactions with him. She is a decent woman who has cut herself loose from
Victorian society's social expectations. A woman is her husband's sex doll and is important only
when satisfying his sexual desires. Keeping away from a husband's responsibility makes her a
respectable lady.
In a distinctive tone, parallels, imagery, metaphor, and symbolism, Chopin portrays
sexual liberation and independence. The Storm is, to begin with, the basic sign of the
independence of Calixta and Alcee, after which they continue with their lives as though nothing
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had happened. Rain appears to symbolise the washing of sins in literature.On the opposite, in
order to introduce unethical sexual lust and adultery, Chopin uses' The Hurricane.' Calixta and
Alcee engage in a secret love affair as the hurricane runs its course. An element of whiteness
explains the situation involving the events of Calixta and Alcee. Typically, whiteness reflects
innocence, but in this situation, it is an act of impurity, which is adultery. Chopin explains
Calixta using color despite the romance between the two. She writes "Her white collar" about
Calixta .White gullet and white breasts," and " her love like a white blaze." All these examples
are used by Chopin to illustrate that adultery is not an unethical act.
In "The Storm", metaphors and analogies are commonly used to establish the concept of
sex , love, and immorality and the viewpoint of Chopin on adultery. "Chopin defines her face as"
a stream of joy "to show that Calixta is completely exhilarated by how Alcee kisses her. The
writer views the state as a" palace of diamonds "after the romantic experience between two. This
depiction portrays the world with an environment of positive emotions that makes the climax a
happier ending. In the conclusion, Chopin reveals the passion and devotion that resides between
Alcee and Calixta by using red color of passion throughout the simile, "her lips were red and wet
as pomegranate seed." This indicated that her charming beauty attracted Alcee to Calixta.
In the end, in order to express her themes and thoughts, Chopin uses a scandalous style of
prose. While her society is hesitant to fairly call out immorality and morals, she defies it and
seeks to put sexuality, freedom, and liberty into a striking equilibrium for all genders. In
discussing circumstances as they are in society, the storm is an articulation of Chopin’s strength,
honesty, and confidence. As a product of Catholicism and social expectations, while culture
restricted women from pursuing their true urges and sexuality, she wanted to open woman's eyes
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to see freedom and gender equality. To effectively communicate her meanings in the plot, she
uses various literary techniques such as allegory, sound, metaphors, similes, and symbolism.
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Works Cited
Boriçi, Florinda. “Kate Chopin: Beyond Local Color to Feminism.” Journal of Educational and
Social Research (2014): 310-313. Web. 09 November 2017.
Childs, Peter, and Roger Fowler. The Routledge Dictionary of Literary Terms. New York:
Routledge, 2006. Web. 09 November 2017.
Chopin, Kate. “The Storm.” 1898. American Literature. Web. 09 November 2017.
Gibert, Teresa. “The Role of Implicatures in Kate Chopin’s Louisiana Short Stories.” Journal of
the Short Story in English 40 (2003): 1-12. Web. 09 November 2017.
Stein, Allen. "The Kaleidoscope of Truth: A New Look at Chopin's" The Storm." American
Literary Realism 36.1 (2003): 51-64.
The Oxford Book of American Short Stories, 2ndedition. (Oxford, 2013), ed. Joyce CarolOates.
ISBN 978-0-19-974439-8
Toth, Emily. Unveiling Kate Chopin. Univ. Press of Mississippi, 1999.

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Last Name 1

Date: October, 29, 2020

Essay ‘The Storm’

discussing specific circumstances that currently exist.

liberty exceeds sexuality as hypocrisy. Women were constitutionally bound to marriage as an

In a distinctive tone, parallels, imagery, metaphor, and symbolism, Chopin portrays

are used by Chopin to illustrate that adultery is not an unethical act.

Social Research (2014): 310-313. Web. 09 November 2017.

Routledge, 2006. Web. 09 November 2017.

the Short Story in English 40 (2003): 1-12. Web. 09 November 2017.

Literary Realism 36.1 (2003): 51-64.

Toth, Emily. Unveiling Kate Chopin. Univ. Press of Mississippi, 1999.

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