Kate Chopins The Storm - Essay Example

“The Storm” contains some ideas related to our current study. Kate Chopin lived in a period when women had to mandatorily ‘display high standards of good conduct.’ The community immensely cherished and believed in principles of good quality and general women's purity. Women did not possess strong liberty compared to men in expressing and exercising their sexual requirements. Unlike her former works, the “Storm” is laden with sexual issues. Sexuality was far from being a subject of discussion and deliberation when she penned the short story. This is why it failed to get published in the course of Chopin’s lifespan. In this work of fiction, she extends her capability over the prevalent themes evident in her work. A storm springs from the suffering that female characters undergo in earlier works. A physical storm exists inside and outside Calixta’s house. The storm is symbolically used to unravel the innermost feelings of Calixta who is the protagonist (the main character). Chopin uses the physical storm to cover the vulgarity of the sexual affair between Calixta and Alcee. The couple carries on with their affair without getting embarrassed. In the story, female characters share their grievances as a whole (Chopin 76).

Kate Chopin makes use of the written word of literature to campaign for women’s rights in society.  In this short story, she had to use the symbol of a storm. Had she directly used it, she would have “awfully diverted from the stipulated rules of the society.” The relationship between Calixta and her husband Alcee is used purposefully. It signifies the possibility that there would come some time when the common woman would be freed of her burden. This is illustrated by the fact that their affair is peaceful. However, there comes a time when Alcee starts ignoring her. This casts light on the marital dissatisfaction present during that time, even now. Religion is also challenged. The story is set in Louisiana, a state full of catholic believers. Her characters practice adultery (an anti-catholic practice). Therefore, religion is also a developmental setback in society.

WRT102 - Research Activity Part Two                 

In this research activity, we shall examine a novel by the title of “the binding vine”. It is written by yet another female writer. Her name is Shashi Deshpande. She is one of the feminist Indian women who ever wrote in English. The novel displays women in their quest for gender balance. Male characters exercise exploitative dominance over women (Deshpande 39).

The writer deftly discusses and exposes female challenges and agony that women have to experience. This is because they are living in a society that is dominated by males who unleash both cultural alongside social constraints on them (the women). Still, the novel vehemently seeks and appeals to the female characters to be patient. This hints at the possible stability of both male and female genders in the future (Deshpande 39).  

WRT102 - Research Activity Part Three

The ideas contained in both the primary (that is “the storm”) and the secondary sources (that is “the binding vine”) can be stringed together. In both sources, the plight of women is well addressed. They are seriously campaigning for their place in society (Chopin 76).

 In their campaign, they face many challenges. The issue of marriage is also presented. Women have no say in their respective marriage institutions, but they do not tire of bargaining for their freedom. This is significant in the sense that it foreshadows future togetherness and existence between the two genders (Deshpande 39