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The Storm By Kate Chopin Literary Analysis

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The Storm By Kate Chopin Literary Analysis
Reinforcing the Plot Through the Setting As Seen In "The Storm"

The short story "The Storm" by Kate Chopin revolves around a setting that is both exciting and enticing. Chopin 's portrayal of the storm 's setting reinforces the plot 's main thematic elements through descriptive imagery that coincides with the characters emotions throughout the story. The characters in this story, Alcee and Calixta in particular, each make their own best of the situation as the storm hits. The storm is described as a violent one, with thrashing winds and blinding rain. The cracking of the thunder is frightening to Calixta, and jump-starts an emotional reunion between her and Alcee.

Alcee takes shelter in Calixta and her husband, Bobintot 's home before the storm begins. Alcee, hearing the rumble of the thunder and the uneasy voice of Calixta, tries to comfort her. While the rain beats against the door, he reminds her of a moment that they shared in
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Bobintot and Bibi returned home with the shrimp and Calixta acted very excited to see them. She got excited and told her husband: "Shrimps! Oh, Bobintot! You too good fo ' anything!" (Chopin 117) and kissed him and Bibi excessively. The reader also learns that Alcee has a wife that is staying in Biloxi. Alcee wrote a loving letter to her that night telling her that he is doing well and that she should stay in Biloxi if she and the children are fairing well there.

The setting often invokes emotional responses that force the characters to react accordingly, which, in turn develops the plot. The surrounding storm is a representation of Calixta 's bound up inner emotions. She seems to feel like she has no pleasure in her life and can 't do anything that she wants to do. This is why she so effortlessly acts out in the manner she does with Alcee. The story tells the reader that while Calixta is in Alcee 's arms, the thunder and wind do not faze her whatsoever when Chopin

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