The Storm

Lindsey Jellison

Professor Barr

ENGL 1302

05 Mar 2013

Giving into Temptation without Consequences

Occasionally adultery can help bring passion back into a marriage. Kate Chopin’s short story examines the controversial issues of adultery and human sexually. One of the story’s central characters is a housewife named Calixta, who is left at home by herself while her husband, Bobinot, and young son, Bibi, wait for a threatening storm to pass at a local country store. At the same time the weather becomes more severe, a man rides up on his horse seeking shelter. It is soon evident that this man, Alcee, is someone with whom Calixta had a previous romantic relationship. This is the first point that leads us to the realization that Calixta might still harbor lustful feelings toward Alcee. Which is clearly illustrated by the lines “His voice and her own startled as if from a trance . . .”

Chopin especially focuses on the themes of loss love and the subtle oppression of being in a passionless marriage of convenience.

Love loss can cause problems in a marriage. Feelings that remain unresolved linger until some type of closure is achieved. Although Calixta and Alcee are each married to other people, they still have feelings and a strong attraction for each other. Chopin’s character “Calixta,” started realizing the seriousness of the situation and goes to the window to look outside so as to keep from gazing at Alcee, for she fears what might come of it. Alcee then also approaches the window in order to stand near her, showing just how deeply he desires her. While staring out of the window, the storm increases in voracity with strong winds and lightning strike like her heart beating rapidly as she anticipates Alcee’s touch upon her skin. Calixta and Alcee knew the moment their bodies touched that their resolve to resist the temptation will break because their marriages are both passionless.

Marriages without passion or marriages of convenience are...