PASSIONATE STORMS Essay, Research Paper

Judy Dear

March 17, 2000

Critical Essay III

English 1123C

Passionate Storms

Kate Chopin?s ?The Storm?, is a story filled with metaphorical references between a thunderstorm of rain and a thunderstorm of passion. Calixta, Bobinot, and Bibi led, what one would assume to be, a rather normal life. While Bobinot and Bibi are in town shopping they notice a storm approaching, and ?Bobinot, who was accustomed to converse on terms of perfect equality with his little son, called the child?s attention to certain sombre clouds that were rolling with sinister intention from the west, accompanied by a sullen, threatening roar.? However, a moment a Mother Nature?s fury unleashed a wealth of passion between Calixta and her former beau Alcee Laballiere.

Calixta was at home sewing while Bobinot and Bibi were at Friedheimer?s store, and she did not realize that a serious, yet pleasurable, storm was fast approaching. Once she noticed that it was getting darker she quickly set about closing doors and windows. Calixta remembered hanging Bobinot?s Sunday coat on the front gallery and as she was retrieving it Alcee rode up seeking shelter from the storm. ?May I come and wait on your gallery till the storm is over, Calixta?? he asked. Although Alcee wished to remain on the gallery, Calixta insisted that he come inside and stay until the storm passed. Although it was dark outside, inside Alcee admired the fact that ?she was a revelation in that dim, mysterious chamber; as white as the couch she lay upon.? Calixta realized that ?her firm, elastic flesh that was knowing for the first time it?s birthright, was like a creamy lily that the sun invites to contribute its breath and perfume to the underlying life of the world.? ?Her mouth,? unlike the torrential rains, ?was a fountain of delight.?

As though their adulterous tryst were timed with the weather, their forbidden lust filled afternoon was over just as the storm was moving on. Although basking in the after-glow, neither dared to sleep. ?The rain was over; and the sun was turning the glistening green world into a palace of gems.? Their passion was as fierce as the crashing torrents of the rain outside and then the after-glow from both being mutually satiated was like the sun coming back out.

Bobinot and Bibi returned home just as Calixta was cooking supper. She was relieved that both had returned safe, unhurt by the storm that had passed through. Alcee wrote to his wife when he returned home and told her to not hurry back, although he did miss her and the children. The stormy weather was gone, as was the storm of passion and all were happy.

Work Cited

Chopin, Kate, ?The Storm? Literature and the Writing Process. Elizabeth McMahan,

Susan X. Day and Robert Funk. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentiss, 1996:

108-111