Alcee Laballiere and the Theme

Alcee Laballiere and the theme of unconventionality in "The Storm" by Kate Chopin

Illustrated in works of literature is the arduous battle of women in achieving happiness and contentment in life as experienced by their male contemporaries. Throughout the history of human society, women as a social sector have been relegated to domestic duties, roles, and responsibilities. However, as the 19th century emerged, new ideologies that destabilized the structure of society had been created and developed to form the new order of society that would prove to be pivotal for women as a new century emerges.

This social change is demonstrated in the work of the writer Kate Chopin, whose feminist stance in her literary works reflect the existence of a women's liberalist ideologies that puts them in the context of a highly patriarchal society, yet able to assert for their empowerment within the social environment that oppresses them. This scenario is presented in the short story "The Storm," where Chopin challenges the social norms of her society by creating the character of Alcee, who, upon analysis of the story, evidently serves as the catalyst of the story towards achieving the main character's (Calixta) liberation and empowerment in the midst of a strongly conventional 19th century Western society.

This analysis and discussion of "The Storm" asserts two main points: first, that the dominant and emergent theme in the story is that of unconventionality; and second, that the character of the protagonist Alcee embodies this theme of unconventionality by presenting Chopin's own portrayal of freedom of the individual by breaking out of the tension that is created by society's norms and standards. The texts that follow discuss these two main points, with references to the said short story by Chopin.

The first theme, which demonstrates the prevalence of unconventionality in the story, is illustrated through the images of the family that Chopin introduces in the story: the family of Calixta and Alcee. Both characters have been married to different people and have established and raised their respective families; however, unconventionality arises when Chopin shows how family relations of the two characters have distinctly improved after Calixta and Alcee's 'act of adultery.' It is important to note that the author wants to tell her audience that happiness in life is achieved not just by abiding strictly to the rules that society dictates us, but in pursuing the true needs and nature of our selves.

Take, as an example, the state of Calixta's family relations before and after committing adultery with Alcee. In Part 1 of the story, Chopin portrays her family as a loving one, and the readers are given a glimpse of Calixta's attitude toward her family and family life when the second part begins with the statement, "Calixta, at home, felt no uneasiness for their safety." Perhaps driven to work harder as both a wife and mother to her husband and son, respectively, Calixta has lost her yearning for life itself: the indifferent attitude that she shows toward her family in Part 2 reflects the fact that she has already become an individual resigned to live a life full of routines and responsibilities, with little appreciation or regard for her self or others. In effect, Chopin paints an unconventional view of the family in Calixta's case.

Similarly, Alcee's also shows that he, like Calixta, has become indifferent to what life has to offer him everyday. Though it was only in the last part of the story that the readers learn of the state of his own family, Alcee's relationship with Calixta has evidently released the strain and tension that is present in his family. From the narrator of the story, the readers find out that Alcee's family was unconventional in that their living arrangements are peculiar, for his wife and children chose to live in another place instead of with him. In the same manner that Calixta becomes the unconventional mother and wife to Bibo and Bobinot, respectively, Alcee has also achieved freedom by agreeing to the peculiar arrangements of his family right after he has resumed relations with Calixta.

On a nutshell, Chopin extends the message that it is only through Calixta and Alcee's unconventional relationship that their respective families have achieved happiness not only for themselves, but for the characters as well. As a minor character of the story, the author has effectively reflected in Alcee's character every ideology and belief that society holds as deviant or unconventional: his agreement to live separately with his family and his commitment to re-establishing romantic and sexual relations with Calixta, for instance.

Ironically, the story utilizes a male character to further the theme of women empowerment, particularly in Calixta's case. However, Chopin also extends the idea that her characters do not go beyond the realities they face everyday. By using Alcee as the catalyst that will drive Calixta to liberate herself sexually and emotionally, the author shows how, in order to achieve empowerment, females must not coerce but cooperate with males in order to achieve their own liberation -- not only from the society, but from the constraints that they themselves have put upon.

Thus, the theme of unconventionality gives way to the second point enumerated earlier, wherein Alcee becomes the catalyst that empowered Calixta and serves as the epitome of unconventionality in his society. Alcee's function in the short story becomes more manifest when he is compared with Calixta's husband, Bobinot, who is remarkably created as Alcee's anti-thesis in that the former embodies everything that characterizes the conservative society they live in.