FREE ESSAY ON THE STORM BY KATE CHOPIN

THE STORM BY KATE CHOPIN

The Storm
The Storm by Kate Chopin is a great literary example of the use of setting. Chopin uses
setting to not only influence the reader's senses, but also, to illustrate the actions
and feelings of her characters. 
Chopin uses a great choice of short descriptive words to describe her setting such as:
[W]hile the storm burst. It shook the wooden store and seemed to be ripping great furrows
in the distant field (Chopin, 96), and The rain beat on the low, shingled roof with a
force and clatter that threatened to break an entrance and deluge them there (96), to
thrust the reader into the sense of being in the storm that is baring down on her
characters. The description of her setting also helps to make the characters actions and
feelings more powerful and exciting to the reader than if the story had taken place in a
different setting.
Chopin's choice of setting also coincides with the actions and feelings of her
characters. In the depths of the raging storm the characters Alcee and Calixta's passion
is as sudden and intense as the storm itself. Chopin describes the lovers' passion within
the storm, They did not heed the crashing torrents, and the roar of the elements made her
laugh as she lay in his arms (97). Even as the storm was intense, as was the lovers'
passion so as the storm begins to tire itself out so do the lovers. The growl of the
thunder was distant and passing away. The rain beat softly on the shingles, inviting them
to drowsiness and sleep. (98)
As the storm ends and the land is renewed, The rain was over and the sun was turning the
glistening green world into a place of gems (98), so it seems is the characters'
relationships. It is as if the storm has a profound effect on the characters that make
them appreciate those around them whom they love. Expecting his wife to be worried and
angry, Bobinot expects to find his wife to be ready to explode when he and his son arrive
home. However, Bobinot's explanations and apologies which he had been composing all along
the way, died on his lips as Calixta felt him to see if he was dry, and seem to express
nothing but satisfaction at their safe return (98). Not only did the storm and sudden
passion effect Calixta it also effected Alcee: 
Alcee Laballiere wrote his wife, Clarisse, that night. It was a loving letter full of
tender solicitude. He told her not to hurry back, but if her and the babies liked it in
Biloxi, to stay a month longer. He was getting on nicely; and though he missed them, he
was willing to bear separation a while longer-- realizing that their health and pleasure
were the first things to be considered (99).
Bibliography
Work Cited
Kate Chopin. The Storm. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed.
X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 7th ed. New York. Longman. 1999. 
Pages 95-99