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The Storm

Page history last edited by William Patrick Wend 11 years, 1 month ago

Biography 

  • 1850-1904

  • Along with Gilman, Eliot etc, Precruser to feminist writers of the 20th century

  • Most of her work takes place in Louisiana

  • Published in Vogue, The Atlantic, etc

    • Story Of An Hour, The Storm

    •  The Awakening

    •  Didn't write until later in life

    • The publishing of The Awakening in 1899 was criticized based on moral as well as literary standards. Her best-known work, it is the story of a woman trapped in the confines of an oppressive society. Out of print for several decades, it is now widely available and critically acclaimed for its writing quality and importance as an early feminist work.

  • Not a feminist or suffragist ala George Eliot

  • Writing gives women individual identity not written by men (POV)   

Journal

  • Typically the "ball and chain" mentality in writing has been reserved for male writers, especially before Chopin. Why do you think Chopin chose to keep this story unpublished, and rather unknown, until after her death? 

About

  • Publishing The Storm 70 years after Chopin's death could be because her family was dead and there would be no criticism of her work.
  • The mainstreaming of the feminist movement also helped. 
  • Possibly not published during Chopin's lifetime because it would have "hit too close to home." 

Summary

Calixta- main character

Bobinot- husband of Calixta

Bibi- four year old son of Calixta and Bobinot

Alce Laballiere- friend of Calixta

 

The story begins in a local store where Calixta’s husband, Bobinot, and their four year old son, Bibi are shopping. A storm is approaching, so Bobinot and Bibi wait for it to pass before heading home. Meanwhile, Calixta is busy at home tending to housework. Just as the storm hits, Alcee, an old friend of Calixta’s, rides towards her house to get out of the storm. Calixta agrees to have him come in. The text suggests that the two have had a relationship in the past: she hasn’t seen him often since her marriage and never alone. She is also nervous. The storm becomes strong and Calixta begins to worry about Bobinot and Bibi out at the store. Alcee comforts her which sparks a tryst between them. The storm and the affair are over. Calixta sees Alcee off; both of them smile. Calixta is excited when Bobinot and Bibi return after the storm. She embraces them and they have dinner together.

Questions?

  • What is "the storm" symbolic of?
  • Storms come and go, there is no shame, the spouses benefit, and they smiled more often.
  • Do you think the other spouses were having affairs?  
  • The Storm was not published until 1969: do you think "the storm" metaphor is still explicit?
  • Per Seyersted, who published the story in 1969, wrote that The Storm has a "supreme authenticity of truth." Do you agree?  
  • According to Seyersted, Chopin was "never a feminist in the dictionary sense of the term," she never joined any organizations or clubs and was reportadly dismissive of the importance of suffrage, but did introduce a "discreet feminist touch" to her writing. How does this idea relate to this story? 

Analysis

  • Is Chopin implying that affairs are as natural as storms?
  • Storms allow us to appreciate the sunnier days. 
  • She doesn't act on it.
  • There is no showing of remorse for their actions. 
  • They still love their spouses and intend to stay with them.
  • Guilt: Calixta cooks a big feast and Alcee writes a love letter to his wife. 

Characters

Symbolism

  • The metaphor of the storm: Disturbance of a natural condition that helps us to appreciate the sunnier days. The sun is our significant other and the storm being our desires. 

Theme

Gender

  • Individual identity not written by men
  • What about the final dialogue between husband and wife at the end?
  •  What is the view of adultery in this story?
  • How does Calixta's husband misunderstand her?
  • If a Victorian man had written this, no one would've batted an eye.
  • Scandalous writing by women is judged harshly. Some like George Eliot went so far as to take a male name.  

Point of View

Irony

Ending

  • Is Chopin arguing that a "storm" is necessary and natural?   

Adaptations

Wordle

Video

Bibliography

  • Bartee, Joanna. "‘The Storm’: More Than Just a Story.” Facultystaff.VWC.edu.Virginia Wesleyan College, n.d. Web. 17 June 2011.
  •  Lee, Elizabeth. "Women In Literature." 1997. Victorian Web. <http://www.victorianweb.org/gender>. 
  • Long-Kluckner, Rebecca. “Chopin's Awakening of Female Sexuality in ‘The Storm.’” AYJW.org. The Association of Young Journalists and Writers, n.d. Web. 17 Jun 2011.

Previous Paper Topics

  1. In some of the stories we have read, there are moral judgments made about characters. This can be seen in Young Goodman Brown, The Storm, Harrison Bergeron, and others. Pick at least one of these stories, but perhaps more, and write about how moral judgments areused to affect one of the themes which we have covered in the course so far. 
  2. There have been a number of stories that we are reading dealing with gender or where gender stereotyping is a potential issue for close reading and discussion. Some of these include The Storm, Harrison Bergeron, Happy Endings, Young Goodman Browne, and others. Pick at least one of these stories, but perhaps more, and write about how gender is used to affect one of the themes which we have covered in the course so far.  
  3. Another issue we have seen come up in various stories (Young Goodman Brown, The Ones Who Leave Omelas, Harrison Bergeron, The Storm) is how violations of the "social contract" play out in various stories we have read. Related, is the issue of the role, or facade, of "polite society," and how it relates as well. Pick at least one of these stories, but perhaps more, and write about how the social contract, and the myth of polite society, is used to affect one of the themes which we have covered in the course so far.  

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