The Storm Question 9 (pg 259)

I do not think the storm excuses the actions of the characters during the story. I do not feel what they did was right because of the storm or because the husband and son were not at home, and I do not think in any given situation would their actions be acceptable. Alcee wrote to his wife and he realized “their health and pleasure were the first things to be considered” (Chopin,259) , and the other family had a feast and enjoyed themselves and “laughed much and so loud that anyone might have heard them” (Chopin, 259). It seems as though nothing ever happened and that the storm just temporarily separated Calixta from her husband and son and as soon as they returned everything was back to normal. The last sentence states that “So the storm passed and everyone was happy” (Chopin,259), and it leaves one to wonder if everyone knew what had happened would they still be so happy? It also makes me feel like the storm was their excuse for committing adultery and as soon as the storm was over so was the actions they shared, thus leaving everyone else in the dark about what went on during that storm. The storm does is not an excuse for what they did and should not be used as an excuse if they have confessed.