Analysis of "the Storm"

Analysis of "the Storm"

Kaltiyn Hamilton
English Comp. 102
Katie Thomas
9/28/2008
Kate Chopin’s story “The Storm” illustrates an example of how even though in life people have desires they try not to give into,   sometimes the desires prove to be to great for a person to resist, and even though they mail fail to resist, they can still carry on with their life unaffected by the decisions made.
Chopin’s description of Calixta conveys her to be of pure and defenseless nature. Although she cares deeply for her husband and son, she is a woman who can be swayed by her desires. Alcee Laballiere is your typical man of the nineteenth century. Though it is the storm that drives him into the house, it is Calixta that keeps him there. The storm’s raging seems to sync perfectly with the tryst between Calixta and Alcee.   The way they “do not heed the crashing torrents” shows their ignorance to the possible, yet eventually non-occurring, repercussions that could ensue. It is as if the sudden onset of the storm’s growing ferocity triggered the start of their weakened defenses. Alcee’s enervating defense is shown perfectly as he says to himself while comforting her “she [is] still inviolate… her defenselessness [is] her defense, against which [my] honor forbade [me] to prevail. Now¬¬¬–well, now–her lips seen in a manner free to be tasted…,” with which the yielding of their defenses ensued.
Calixta’s behavior upon the arrival of her son and husband shows although she gave into passing fancy, she never lost sight of what truly held significance in her life. Alcee’s writing of the letter to his wife shows that he, too, can have his moments of weakness, but still be able to go back to live and enjoy the life he has chosen for himself.   The point of the story is perfectly illustrated with the last line, “so the storm passed and everyone was happy,” once the storm had passed, so had the tryst, and so had those feelings of clandestine passion.