Kate Chopin's short story, "The Storm," is a story about the true meaning of happiness that transpires during a raging thunderstorm. Some of the ideas and themes tackled in this four-page short include adultery, happiness, the nature of secrets, and temptation. One of the main character's decisions revolves around infidelity, and can be considered a truly reprehensible act. Although some cultures look at it differently, the action is, on the whole, looked down upon. In Kate Chopin's "The Storm," through the story's showcasing of literary skill and dynamic themes, a question can be posed to the story's events: are the gender politics on display enough to justify Calixta's reprehensible actions? Firstly, in order to answer this question, we …show more content…
Looking at the writing itself, it's clear that there is a fluidity to the prose. The story seamlessly shifts back-and-forth between four different perspectives: we start with Bobinot and Bibi, we then shift to the scene between Calixta and Alcee, and we end on Bobinot and Bibi's return home to Calixta. There is a notable distinction in diction and vocabulary between the narration and Bobinot. Specifically, Bobinot's usage of words like "w'at," "yo'," and "oughta'," and the narrator's usage of phrases like "pathetic resignation" and "the embodiment of serious solicitude." There are also differences in speaking styles between the story's characters. Calixta speaks in a more informal, Cajun dialect, while Alcee a more formal speaking style, almost like the narration. If the writing style affects the impact of these events, Chopin's dramatic devices provide the actual crafting. The story was written from a third-person perspective, with not much clarity on who the narrator of the story actually is. From the scene with Calixta and Alcee's affair: "Oh! she remembered; for in Assumption he had kissed her and kissed and kissed her; until his senses would well nigh fail, and to save her he …show more content…
One prominent theme explored is the notion of happiness, or lack thereof, which is represented in a few ways. First, Bibi's innocence and obliviousness to his mother's actions is that happiness everyone has felt as a child. Second, there is an antithesis with Calixta's situation in life. Given the time period of the story, she is presumably mistreated by the society she lives in and can only stay at home as a simple housewife in the Antebellum South. Third, the irony of the ending is an interesting meditation on Calixta's newfound happiness; she has finally achieved a taste of it, but to not much avail as she is still stuck in her misfortune position in her life. Next, secrets are a topic that is explored by the actions of these characters. The nature of secrets feels like a double-edged blade. Some are simply deceptive and harmless while others can come off as untrustworthy and harsh. They can be enough to tear an entire family apart, if they're horrible enough. Bibi and Bobinet arrive at home just after Alcee has left their farm. Both father and son have absolutely no idea what horrible thing had transpired in their household. Calixta, of course, woudl not dare give them the courtesy of revealing this misdeed. Surprisingly, she feels next to no guilt over what she has committed. Let's look at this deed that she has committed more clearly. Adultery, also known more commonly as