The Storm

In the short story, “The Storm, by Kate Chopin, a storm sets in motion the chain of events that leads to the characters’ adultery.

Calixta, is at home all by herself, and was so occupied with her own thoughts that she didn’t even realize a storm was brewing. She felt no uneasiness for Bobinôt, her husband and Bibi, her son’s safety. Calixta felt warm and mopped her face and unbuttoned her top button on her dress. As it grows dark she suddenly realizes that a storm is almost upon her. She quickly sets about shutting widows and doors.

As Calixta quickly gathers Bobinôt’s Sunday clothes, before they get soaked by the rain she sees Alc’ee ride up on his horse. What we quickly learn is that Alc’ee is a former beau that she shared passionate kisses with in her youth, long before she had married Bobinôt. Alc’ee asks, “Do you remember—in Assumption, Calixta?” he asked in a low voice broken by passion? She did indeed remember, and that time, because she was a virgin, even though she was passionate about him, she had resisted him. Now, in the height of the storm, Calixta didn’t seem to be able to come up with a reason to resist him, and she gives in to all the passion she felt in the past, all the pent up emotion, and she gives Alc’ee all the passion she has then and now.

Once they are done, they seem to pick up from where they were before the moments of passion, like nothing happened, almost like they were given a free pass, to make up for times gone by.

When I first read this story, I did feel that they had done wrong in their moment of passion, but after reflecting upon it, I think they each gave themselves a gift, and in return were able to move on with their lives, and not make more of the one stolen moment in time.

Kara Carpenter