Kate Chopin's "The Storm"

This is a story of betrayal and happiness. During the storm Bibi and Bobinot seem devoted to the mother and wife (Calixta) of this story. They think of her when they are trapped in the store reassuring eachother that she is fine in the house, "She'll shut the house. Maybe she got Sylvie helpin' her this evenin"(pg. 256). Calixta and Bobinot, and also Alcee and Clarisse both seem to be having good marriages. Alcee and Calixta seem not to think they have done anything wrong in the house after they both committed adultery. Bobinot comes home to a seemingly joyful wife, and Alcee writes to his wife expressing how he misses her. There was something deeper though. Having marriage hold people together does not account for everything. Many times people stay together just for children, and not really having any true love towards eachother. There may be love on the outside, but really on the inside it is not with reailty. Back than, it was not common for people to get divorced even if they did not love eachother. I believe that there was not true love with either of the marriages. Calixta's and Alcee's fling was not planned, just something spur-of the moment on account of the storm. Both Calixta and Alcee continued on with their lives and their spouses as if nothing had even happened. Calixta appeared exstatic as they came in saying, "Oh, Bobinot! You back! My! but I was uneasy. W'ere you been during the rain? An' Bibi? he ain't wet? he ain't hurt?" (pg 258). Calixta and Alcee both knew of their wrongdoing but did not address it. There are certain things in life that will not be addressed and that wil always remain a secret.

-Cassandra Lee Mikel