The Storm Essay Research Paper

“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).

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