Addressing the Value of Setting in “The Storm”

[Ms. Miller, MAED & MA]

Please watch the College Board and my YouTube videos on setting prior to responding to this discussion board, so that you can use the language from the lectures in your response. Consider the various settings in “The Storm.” Discuss one of the contradictions between the setting and events in the short story. Using the application of one or more chapters from How to Read Literature Like a Professor, provide at least one alternative interpretation of the reading solely on setting.

1) In no less than 100 words, respond to the prompt.
2.) In no less than 50 words, respond to 1-2 of your classmates.

[Emily Willett]

One of the biggest contradictions in "The Storm" is between the weather and the actions of Calixta and Alcee. As seen in HTRLLAP, stormy weather represents danger, depression, sadness, conflict, and negative events. However, while the storm is going on outside and the other characters are afraid and trying to find safety, Calixta and Alcee are inside laughing. They are almost oblivious to what is happening outside and are passionately having an affair. Both of them are happy, laughing, and enjoying their time which is opposite of what the storm represents. It can seem as if the negative events and danger only applies to Calixta's family that is stuck in the storm. This can represent Calixta's actions being harmful to her family but not herself.

[eriiic]

Expanding upon Emily, even the text itself hinted the events, as said "...certain sombre clouds that were rolling with sinister intention from the west", like as if Calixta and Alcee presumptively understood their actions to come, or more simply that the weather further cloaks the sinful affair into secrecy. Even the stormy weather itself attempts to break this secret, through local lightning strikes illuminating the house, which Calixta immediately recognizes as a danger and momentarily stops the action, like admitting guilty.

[Jianan (Sunny) Chen]

The geography and weather often foreshadow the story plot and its connection to the characters. The clear sky with no clouds symbolizes the peaceful beginning of the story, but the incoming snowstorm that was presented when the main character decides to take a turn away from the origin, the Yukon Trails. This covers with the twists and turns of what happens later in the story, where the snow becomes a symbol of a plain death bed instead of the innocence the color was supposed to bring. Snow, the representation of the theme Nature VS. Men, and the shield of mother nature, eventually kills off the main character, but also in a way, killing off his pride and overconfidence when the fire, which may symbolize his greed, down.
*The old man serves as a warning in the sense of Nature VS. Men and a reflection of the rebellious actions of the younger main character.

Connecting to HTRLLAP, the contradiction between the symbolic meaning of colors is actually flipped in this short story. With the snow leading up to the man’s death, the thin dark side that ends the path of the snow is actually the peaceful end to the suffering the man is experiencing from the pure, white, and shiny snow. The snow will eventually wash away the trace of man, while nature continues to thrive, this also relates to HTRLLAP where literature usually connects to real-life problems, such as current problems and events happening around the world with examples being deforestation and overuse of materials or natural resources, it creates a stronger connection between the story, the authors, and the readers.

[Jianan (Sunny) Chen]

Aug 26, 2021 14:51:01 GMT -8 Emily Willett said:

One of the biggest contradictions in "The Storm" is between the weather and the actions of Calixta and Alcee. As seen in HTRLLAP, stormy weather represents danger, depression, sadness, conflict, and negative events. However, while the storm is going on outside and the other characters are afraid and trying to find safety, Calixta and Alcee are inside laughing. They are almost oblivious to what is happening outside and are passionately having an affair. Both of them are happy, laughing, and enjoying their time which is opposite of what the storm represents. It can seem as if the negative events and danger only applies to Calixta's family that is stuck in the storm. This can represent Calixta's actions being harmful to her family but not herself.

Hello Emily! I strongly agree with your states of the contradiction between the weather and the actions of Calixta and Alcee. The connection and relativity connecting back to "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" is also relevant as the setting of a dark, cold, and stormy weather does create a mysterious and depressing atmosphere in the reading as well as adding a layer of suspicion to the readers. This contracdiction is proven as the main characters are acting completely opposite of what the meaning the storm holds. Overall, very clear and easy-to-understand answer!

[Jianan (Sunny) Chen]

Oops, I realized the prompt is "The Storm" but I accidentally inserted my analysis on "To Build A Fire," sorry about that!

[Elia Wong]

The weather is dark and stormy, with “certain somber clouds that were rolling with sinister intention from the west, accompanied by a sullen, threatening roar” (page 1), creating a rather depressing mood. Right away, we begin to associate the atmosphere with incoming disaster and the negative feelings that come with having to stay cooped up inside when a storm approaches. However, the settings affects the situation of each character differently. Whereas Bobinot and Bibi faced the misfortune of having to wait out the storm inside the wooden store as the elements rained down outside, Calixta and Alcee had a fabulous time, “not [heeding] the crashing torrents,” which made Calixta “laugh as she lay in his arms” (page 2), showing a contradiction of the implications of a storm since the two were feeling the opposite of glum and bored. The setting also gave Calixta and Alcee the opportunity to have an affair, which is also a contradiction since we perceive storms as disasters that take away opportunities. These contradictions can convey the possibility of still attaining joy in atmospheres that have the potential to prevent it. In chapter 9 of HTRRLLP, “It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow,” Foster mentions rain having a cleansing effect. By carrying out her affair inside the bedroom, Calixta is protected from that cleansing, allowing her to keep her tarnished personality as seen by her having an affair.

[Elia Wong]

Aug 26, 2021 14:51:01 GMT -8 Emily Willett said:

One of the biggest contradictions in "The Storm" is between the weather and the actions of Calixta and Alcee. As seen in HTRLLAP, stormy weather represents danger, depression, sadness, conflict, and negative events. However, while the storm is going on outside and the other characters are afraid and trying to find safety, Calixta and Alcee are inside laughing. They are almost oblivious to what is happening outside and are passionately having an affair. Both of them are happy, laughing, and enjoying their time which is opposite of what the storm represents. It can seem as if the negative events and danger only applies to Calixta's family that is stuck in the storm. This can represent Calixta's actions being harmful to her family but not herself.

I agree! And that contrast in situation is enhanced by the fact that the house was nice and toasty, adding to the happy, comfortable atmosphere Calixta and Alcee were in while Bobinot and Bibi were stuck in a wooden store: "[Calixta] wiped the frame that was clouded with moisture. It was stiflingly hot" (page 2). 

[joshuaisinvalid]

One contradiction, in the excerpt from “The Storm,” by Jack London, is the circumstances and locations Calixta and Bobinot are in during the storm. Taking into account the time period this novel was written in, the husband would’ve been tasked with creating income, whereas the wife would’ve been tasked with housekeeping. Although, it is implied that they have a housekeeper. The irony shows when Bobinot, the husband, has to trudge through the mud to make his way back home, but Calixta just cheats on him inside the safety and comfort of furniture. Focusing on an HTRLAP perspective on geography for contradictions, rain may represent purification, life, or washing away something. However, because Calixta stays away from the rain, she “misses” the chance and isn’t “purified” from her unfaithfulness to her husband.

[joshuaisinvalid]

Aug 26, 2021 14:51:01 GMT -8 Emily Willett said:

One of the biggest contradictions in "The Storm" is between the weather and the actions of Calixta and Alcee. As seen in HTRLLAP, stormy weather represents danger, depression, sadness, conflict, and negative events. However, while the storm is going on outside and the other characters are afraid and trying to find safety, Calixta and Alcee are inside laughing. They are almost oblivious to what is happening outside and are passionately having an affair. Both of them are happy, laughing, and enjoying their time which is opposite of what the storm represents. It can seem as if the negative events and danger only applies to Calixta's family that is stuck in the storm. This can represent Calixta's actions being harmful to her family but not herself.

I agree, the fact that she lies to them about being worried for them due to the storm (London 1, 6) helps support the fact that the rain revealed the contradictions between her and Bobinot: Bobinot believing Calixta cares for them, and Calixta, in reality, not even thinking about them, and more about the house. 

[Jessica P.]

In Kate Chopin's The Storm, a contradition can be seen in the way the storm keeps the different characters away from each other. There is a contrast from the usual as in normal circumstances, a storm would bring people closer to each other. It would force people to stay together in order to keep warm and ensure they don't perish due to the terrible weather. The opposite happens here however because the storm actually keeps Babinot and Bibi away from Calixta and eventually encourages her to start an affair with her old lover Alcee.

[Sofia Escobar]

Throughout the entirety of "The Storm", the setting is extremely important to the story. Not only does it provide an excellent contradiction to the events taking place, but it may not be as evident at first. For instance, while this woman and the mysterious man are having a scandalous, affairs, directly going against the loyalty they promised their partners. This, for them, is a pleasuring event, enjoying risque activities. However, the storm itself rages on, escalating with their rondevous. Normally, the scene would be extremely risque. "The cars whizzed by as the wind suddenly stopped", holding its breath as if waiting for something to happen"; there isn't really anything necessarily romantic about a raging storm.

[Sofia Escobar]

Aug 28, 2021 20:08:25 GMT -8 joshuaisinvalid said:

One contradiction, in the excerpt from “The Storm,” by Jack London, is the circumstances and locations Calixta and Bobinot are in during the storm. Taking into account the time period this novel was written in, the husband would’ve been tasked with creating income, whereas the wife would’ve been tasked with housekeeping. Although, it is implied that they have a housekeeper. The irony shows when Bobinot, the husband, has to trudge through the mud to make his way back home, but Calixta just cheats on him inside the safety and comfort of furniture. Focusing on an HTRLAP perspective on geography for contradictions, rain may represent purification, life, or washing away something. However, because Calixta stays away from the rain, she “misses” the chance and isn’t “purified” from her unfaithfulness to her husband.

Definitely agree with this! To add on I do believe the author tries to illustrate the wife's fear by having the child and the father wash off the dirt when they return home. This could illustrate them both literally and figuratively washing something away; they'll never know about the affair if she never says anything.

[joshuapark]

Aug 28, 2021 12:41:34 GMT -8 Jianan (Sunny) Chen said:

The geography and weather often foreshadow the story plot and its connection to the characters. The clear sky with no clouds symbolizes the peaceful beginning of the story, but the incoming snowstorm that was presented when the main character decides to take a turn away from the origin, the Yukon Trails. This covers with the twists and turns of what happens later in the story, where the snow becomes a symbol of a plain death bed instead of the innocence the color was supposed to bring. Snow, the representation of the theme Nature VS. Men, and the shield of mother nature, eventually kills off the main character, but also in a way, killing off his pride and overconfidence when the fire, which may symbolize his greed, down.
*The old man serves as a warning in the sense of Nature VS. Men and a reflection of the rebellious actions of the younger main character.

Connecting to HTRLLAP, the contradiction between the symbolic meaning of colors is actually flipped in this short story. With the snow leading up to the man’s death, the thin dark side that ends the path of the snow is actually the peaceful end to the suffering the man is experiencing from the pure, white, and shiny snow. The snow will eventually wash away the trace of man, while nature continues to thrive, this also relates to HTRLLAP where literature usually connects to real-life problems, such as current problems and events happening around the world with examples being deforestation and overuse of materials or natural resources, it creates a stronger connection between the story, the authors, and the readers.

Your analysis was spot on, it really opened my eyes and got me thinking about how the sky represents peacefulness and how the snowstorm contradicts the sky to the point of representing signs of the characters awaiting death. I now see the novel in a whole new perspective, thanks

[joshuapark]

Aug 25, 2021 17:58:25 GMT -8 Ms. Miller, MAED & MA said:

Please watch the College Board and my YouTube videos on setting prior to responding to this discussion board, so that you can use the language from the lectures in your response. Consider the various settings in “The Storm.” Discuss one of the contradictions between the setting and events in the short story. Using the application of one or more chapters from How to Read Literature Like a Professor, provide at least one alternative interpretation of the reading solely on setting.

1) In no less than 100 words, respond to the prompt.
2.) In no less than 50 words, respond to 1-2 of your classmates.

I believe that the storm represents how Calixta and Alcee were going to, in a way, cause 'terror' upon Calixta's husband and son as Alcee walks into Calixta's home. When the lightning hits the tree, it symbolizes and contradicts the beginning of the sexual intercourse between the cheating wife and man, as the man reassures Calixta that they won't get caught through the symbolization of the trees, describing themselves as a low house too small for them to be caught while the tall trees surrounding them represents obstacles or excuses to hide behind. Furthermore, when the storm clears and Calixta describes the aftermath as a palace full of gems, this could represent how she views her act of cheating without guilt and shame, saying she truly enjoyed and treasured it like a palace of gems. However, the story focuses on the husband and child who are covered in mud, as the mud represents Calixta's sins against them while the dad desperately attempts to wash and scrape the mud off the child as if he's trying to take off Calixta's sins without much success.