I think that Kate Chopin’s, The Storm is an interesting portrayal of the influence that society has on our everyday lives. This is a timeless topic, as it still relates to today’s society and its sway on us. In this story, both Claxita and Aclee marry whom they are supposed to according to class and society. Whom they end up choosing to marry is not their first choice; rather they base their choice on whom society deems a good match for them, and whom they can tolerate. This really underlines the unspoken disdain towards going outside your designated class level, even for love.
I really enjoyed the symbolism of the storm, and the simple effect of the storm. Both of the main characters had this building uneasiness circulating inside of them from the time they became married up until now. In order for them to go on living happily and move past this squall, they needed to get it out of their systems. Just like calm after the storm, once it passes everything is peaceful. The actual storm provided that shelter that they needed for the indulgence in their forbidden actions, and then with the passing of the storm so goes their conflicting thoughts with society’s norms. “So the storm passed and everyone was happy.” Calixta was able to be a good mother and their family was able to have an enjoyable time rather than being afraid of her like they were. Aclee and his wife Clarisse also became content with how things were. As a result, the building storm inside of them, and natures influence passed to leave a new and pleasant road ahead for all characters to travel.
I also think that Chopin’s focus on sexuality is interesting since most of the other literature had focused on slavery and race. Sexuality is depicted as being a threat to society and encloses the power to violate class. I think that this is another symbol of the storm, passion and nature taking its course. I think that this story points out how feeble it is to have such a focus on race and class when in the end, it is uncontrollable and things are going to work out how they were meant to, not necessarily according to our societies beliefs. When I read this work, it reminds me of Romeo and Juliet in a way. The characters in this story do not have nearly as fatal an end as Romeo and Juliet, but they do come across the limits that society puts on their hearts. This is another aspect that makes Kate Chopin’s piece so timeless. This Romeo and Juliet theme is a popular premise in movies today. The influence that society has over us is fascinating and I believe to be very influential.
4 comments:
You raise some VERY good points the storm is defiantly a huge symbol in that piece. I think that Chopin was trying to show that women truly do have some power even in the 1800s. That power is sexuality and to men it's scary thing. Calixta is a very attractive woman or at least she is described that way and typically men find attractive women sexy. Then she on top of it she has that exoticness about that also makes her more attractive to Alcee. I was just thinking what if Chopin wrote these stories today? I think they would lose something very important because most likely since society is much more excepting the main characters would not have to settle.
I completely agree that this story had a lot of symbolism. The whole story was very risky for the time and it seemed to show that there are people out there that will steer away from what society expects.
I see where your coming from. I see that this is still going on. People settle for social reasons and they are not happy and this is when affairs start to happen. Its funny that the women commits adultry and now in society is the men that are looked upon this way. What I found interesting was the fact that Calixta didnt get caught instead she and alsee went seperate ways. I though they would end up together.
I think that this is definatly a timeless piece. This idea that we are supposed to be with people of our own class and race is for some reason still a very prominate today.
Liz Hill in our class gave really good examples of how this still exists today. Her mom and dad are a different race, and her mom recieved many problems because of this. I think she even told me that some of her parent's family did not even attend their wedding because of this very reason.
This was really strange to hear because being from a small, isolated town, I never really heard of this kind of thing. I honestly thought that this was a thing of the past, but obviously I was wrong.
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