Katie Chopin the Storm Comparing Symbols of

Katie Chopin the Storm Comparing Symbols of the Storm to an Illicit Love Affair: Kate Chopin's "The Storm" Kate Chopin's short story the storm is a fiery tale of two lovers, whose passion comes just as fast as the onset of the violent storm that serves as the backdrop of the story. Throughout the short story, there are symbols presented by Chopin that correlate both with the onset of the raging storm and the spontaneous tryst between the two lovers, Calixta and Alcee.

The rapid onset of the affair, the growing strength, the spontaneous nature, and the negative and adulterous undertones are all used by Chopin to describe both the storm and the illicit affair between the two. The storm came on almost as a complete surprise, as did their love and their act of making love. The entire duration of the storm is fast, yet powerful, which compares to the love between Calixta and Alcee. As the storm intensifies, so does the sexual tension between the two.

In a rapid succession, both the storm and the lovers commence in their raging fury. Yet, this only lasts a short time. By the time the storm has ransacked their town, their love affair has also quieted down. In fact, it is the excuse of the storm which Alcee uses to get inside the house with Calixta alone. She is surprised and is note quite sure what to do, yet in the midst of the brooding storm, agrees to let him in.

During their first exchange and Calixta's anxiety, it is clear that the pair have a history; that history is about to explode just as fast as the storm hits the small Southern town. The growing strength of the storm represents the growing passion between the two lovers as the story continues. As Calixta becomes frightened, Alcee is right there to comfort here. The violence of the storm engulfs the town, and Alcee is the only one present to give her a sense of safety.

Still, the two were quite unexpected and thus share an element of spontaneity that Chopin clearly portrays for both the storm and the affair between the two lovers. The violence of the storm served as a perfect moment for the lovers to let out their own sexual frustrations in secret. The storm concealed their affair in the moment of spontaneous passion.

Here, Chopin explains "the generous abundance of her passion, without guile or trickery, was like a white flame which penetrated and found response in depths of his own sensuous nature that had never yet been reached" (Chopin 4). In this moment of passion, the two lovers fall into a state where they are just as raging for each other as the storm is outside for the village it is in the process of consuming. Aclee goes from a person to comfort Calixta to the man who is providing her passionate ecstasy.

Both the storm and the lover's tryst have clear undertones of intense passion, but also of obvious danger. The storm rages outside, but it is also a danger to the people of the town. Thus, the intense force of nature takes on a sinister image, which Chopin also uses to carry into the description of the illicit love.