Kate Chopin's The Storm - Essay Example

Kate Chopin’s “The Storm” The irony present in the Storm by Kate Chopin lies in the adulterous relationship between Alcee and Calixta and its impact on their respective marriages. The story has situational irony in that we expect that their adulterous act, which the author, presents in an explicit way and suggests that Alcee and Calixta were always, meant for each other, in fact, benefits their respective matrimonial unions. It is important, in this case, to note how their adulterous union is presented:“Her firm, elastic flesh that was knowing for the first time its birthright, was like a creamy lily that the sun invites to continue its breath and perfume to the underlying life of the world” (Chopin 2).

Phrases like Calixta being aware of her birthright while in the middle of an adulterous act, with Alcee suggest she will not be able to go back to her husband afterwards. However, as soon as the storm of passion that had been unleashed passes, the air seems to have cleared, with both Alcee and Calixta returning to their respective spouses in an even happier state. The author writes, “so the storm passed and everyone was happy” (Chopin 4). This particular phrase is the best evidence of irony in this short story, since the author suggests that such spontaneous outlets of adulterous passion can actually help a marriage instead of destroying it.

The reader is, however, aware that while, the characters are happy, their marriages are not. The Storm utilizes irony to portray an unfaithful society instead of crudely putting across a sensitive issue. After the return of her child and husband, she is satisfied at their safe return but, ironically, shows no regret for her actions. In fact, she is described as being full of energy and cheerful, especially when her husband gave her shrimp that he had brought to lighten her spirit. The author also utilizes irony at the end when she writes, “so the storm passed away and everyone was happy” (Krauss 14).

Working with the language of a story and paying its evidence close attention is important because the reader is able to observe details and facts from the text. The reader’s aim may be to notice the text’s striking features such as cultural references, structural elements, or rhetorical features (Krauss 21). The story attempts to raise empathy and sympathy in certain characters. While the story is concise and brief, with the entire plot constituting four pages, a simple situation with complex and deep undertones is set up.

The characters are just as complex, with Calixta and Alcee being the most complex, given their passionate, but brief affair that ends with the two characters resuming their lives. The writer attempts to draw sympathy for Calixta by trying to convince the audience that Calixta had fallen victim to her own violent storm. The author does this by using phrases such as “put her hands to her eyes and with a cry.” (Chopin 5). The reader also notices that most of the characters in The Storm speak in dialect, which is useful in situating their origins.

In this case, most of them come from New Orleans (Krauss 21). This aids the reader to read the story in the context of New Orleans conservative nature in the late 1800s, where unfaithfulness in women was frowned. Knowing the setting of the story facilitates the reader’s comprehension of events, as well as their engagement with the story.Works CitedChopin, Kate. The Storm. London: Short Story Press, 2005. Print.Krauss, Kerstin. Kate The author - "The Storm of The Storm". Santa Cruz: GRIN Verlag, 2009. Print.