The Storm

The framing structure and imagery Kate Chopin utilizes in “The Storm,” focuses the reader on how a storm is a catalyst for a woman’s liberation, overpowering the moral dimensions of having an affair as a married woman in the 19th century.

Kate Chopin is known for her truthful depictions of women’s lives during the 19th century, a time period when women were not equal to men. “The Storm” is no different, channeling the character of Calixta as a traditional housewife. In the opening frame of “The Storm,” the framing is immediately shifted towards Calixta from the description of her family dynamic. In a dialogue between her husband and son, Bobint “reassuringly” states how “[Calixta will] shut the house,” and prepare the duties that are hers

For example, Calixta is specifically defined as pure and innocent in having 7 references to white in her descriptions. Calixta is further deemed pure and innocent by connecting her to the Catholic faith. Directly comparing Calixta to the Virgin Mary Chopin writes, “[h]er lips were as red and moist as pomegranate seed” and “[Calixta] reminded [Alce] of the Assumption” (II). In this religion, the pomegranate is an emblem for the Virgin Mary and the Assumption is when Mary was received into heaven (and also when Alce and Calixta had a non–sexual but romantic encounter before) (Fongemie). The reader thus focuses on the the societal moral dilemma of having an affair from Calixta’s perspective by having this allusion during a time where society is very adamant on practicing Catholicism. As a married woman with a child, Calixta and Alce’s encounter should be completely morally wrong and Calixta should be punished for showing sexual intentions. However, Chopin style shines through in radically having the opposite effect for Calixta. Instead of punishing her or causing her to die as most literature of the time did to women who expressed sexual intentions, Chopin comments on how this act liberates Calixta from her bounds to the house. The encounter is very descriptive and in context of how Calixta feels and physically is (i.e “[h]er firm, elastic flesh,” “[h]er mouth was a fountain of delight,”

The encounter between Calixta and Alce proves that because women have a different standard than men in the 19th century, thus having a deeper layer to their moral dimensions. The reader does not see Alce in a different light after the encounter, but does see Calixta in a different light because she does something for herself as a bid for