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Post by Flora Xiao on Aug 29, 2021 15:11:40 GMT -8
In Kate Chopin's, "The Storm" a contradiction that can be seen is the weather and the character's response to the weather. In the beginning, the storm is described with "sombre clouds" and "sinister intentions", building suspense and tension. The storm is then personified throughout the story through the characters' actions, specifically Calixta and Alcee's intimate scene. While the storm outside "shingled [the] roof with a force and clatter that threatened to break an entrance", Calixta is rather unbothered by it because the storm is metaphorically Alcee destroying the trust between Calixta and her husband. As the intimacy builds the plot, the storm slowly begins to disappear until Alcee rides away.
"The Storm" can be related to the chapter on a deal with the devil from HTRLLAP. There are multiple instances of Alcee taking advantage of Calixta's where he is represented as the devil and the bargain is Calixta's relationship in return for a moment of pleasure. In the text, Alcee's voice is described as one that is deep and puts Calixta in a "trance" for a moment. In another instance "he possessed her". The intimate scenes serve as a reassurance that Calixta did indeed make a deal with the devil. When making such a deal, a price always has to be payed, which in this instance is Calixta's purity and loyalty to her husband and her family.
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Post by Flora Xiao on Aug 29, 2021 15:16:52 GMT -8
In “The Storm”, by Kate Chopin, the environment inside the house contradicts the storm that is beginning outside. Storms are typically associated with destruction and chaos, but the interaction between Alcee and Calixta show rekindling and underlying relief. The relationship between Alcee and Calixta shows the destructions of their individual marriages; however, the last line of the story contradicts everything else, saying “So the storm passed and everyone was happy.” Despite the ignorance of the other partners leading everyone to feel happy, the aftermath of the storm cannot be avoided. In the chapter titled “…Except Sex” in HTLAP, it discusses how authors choose to depict these scenes as a metaphor for something else. In the short story, the storm forced the proximity of Alcee and Calixta. However, it can be interpreted that the storm represents the relationship between them: predictable and inevitable. The storm picks up when Alcee steps into the house, and coincidentally ends when Alcee and Calixta are finished. This is a great interpretation of the text! I agree with how you phrased that the storm is a personification and metaphor for the destruction of Calixta's marriage, especially since her husband is in a completely different setting and has intentions of returning to her whereas Calixta is homey in their house with another man. As I was discussing with my group we touched on many aspects of HTRLLAP but didn't get the most obvious one that you mentioned lol. So kudos to you for that one! |
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Post by Lani Dinh on Aug 29, 2021 15:34:42 GMT -8
I believe a contradiction present is how this scene of chaos of the storm characterizes her as a fierce loving mother, weathering through the violence and harshness of the storm. violent scene of crashing and more quick handed sporadic words/diction sets frantic kind of mood, during the romance. Mothers are often loyal to their children an unfaltering ideals of dedication yet in this affair amidst a storm there for sure is calm in the storm, clinging to an uneasy hope, flimsy promises. Little afforded kindness juxtaposed with the dim, chaotic setting here, bonds the reader to the text through the tension built and creates the contraction of betraying her values in a warm embrace against a cold weathering tragedy outside.
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Post by Lani Dinh on Aug 29, 2021 15:39:26 GMT -8
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). I agree! The affair holds a heavy weight to the story and adds a level of understanding through your analysis, and the inclusion of that emcounter to further solidify the fact of tense scenes really meaning more than a simple ploy device and actually lending itself to be an emotionally tenuous contraction woven into the story itself. That is so important to deepening the understanding of not just the story but the characters, and Calixta herself. Her personhood rooted in motherhood and certain loyalties only, amidst a chaotic storm |
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Post by andrewcollard on Aug 29, 2021 15:49:15 GMT -8
In “The Storm”, by Kate Chopin, the environment inside the house contradicts the storm that is beginning outside. Storms are typically associated with destruction and chaos, but the interaction between Alcee and Calixta show rekindling and underlying relief. The relationship between Alcee and Calixta shows the destructions of their individual marriages; however, the last line of the story contradicts everything else, saying “So the storm passed and everyone was happy.” Despite the ignorance of the other partners leading everyone to feel happy, the aftermath of the storm cannot be avoided. In the chapter titled “…Except Sex” in HTLAP, it discusses how authors choose to depict these scenes as a metaphor for something else. In the short story, the storm forced the proximity of Alcee and Calixta. However, it can be interpreted that the storm represents the relationship between them: predictable and inevitable. The storm picks up when Alcee steps into the house, and coincidentally ends when Alcee and Calixta are finished. Because of the storms contradiction with the safety of the house, we see that those outside of the house, Bobinot and Alcee's wife, who is far away, are not exposed to the secret of the affair. In a way they are being dangerously mislead by their spouses because of the destruction it could cause their marriages, correlating to the dangers of the storm outside. |
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Post by emilykrueger on Aug 29, 2021 15:49:53 GMT -8
In The Storm by Kate Chopin, one of the main setting in the story was Calixta's house while the thunder storm was taking place. While the storm was happening Calixta was at home with Alcee and she was very scared by the storm and thought lightning would strike her house and it would fall down so for Calixta, the storm was very dark and scary. Also in the book How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster we know how he explains that storms represent a very dark time. We can make a guess that a storm could be represented for how Calixta feels with her relationship with Alcee when she is already married to Bobinot.
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Post by emilykrueger on Aug 29, 2021 15:54:56 GMT -8
I agree with Celina that the thunder storm gets bigger when Calixta and Alcee are alone together in the shelter. And even though they are not paying that much attention to the storm, it gets bigger because of their relationship and it could only cause more problems, represented by the storm.
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Post by andrewcollard on Aug 29, 2021 16:27:54 GMT -8
One of the contradictions from "The Storm" is Calixta's thoughts and actions. When Calixta realized that a storm is approaching, she became worried for her husband Bobinot and their four year-old son, Bibi. But once lightning strikes, Alcee embraces Calixta, and they begin to engage in a heated session. Chopin takes advantage of the setting of the storm and use it as a plot device. According to HTRLLAP, the rain from the storm is used to force characters together, or force characters apart. In this case, the rain confines Alcee and Calixta together in a house, while it separated Bobinot and Calixta. The storm also serves as a metaphor for a fragile relationship between Alcee and Calixta and Bobinot and Calixta and expression of vulnerability Calixta showed towards Alcee. Likewise, the effect of the storm is destructing anything in its path or it can just pass by with minimal damage. Piecing these elements together, Calixta's contradictions of her thoughts (worrying for husband and child and right after having an affair, Calixta "express[ed] nothing but satisfaction at their safe return" ) and actions (having an affair with Alcee, despite her thoughts, and feeling so shame or guilt) also reflects the setting of the storm and vice versa because the storm is seen as violent and destructive, but it passed, and the love affairs between Alcee and Calixta is seen as unacceptable in society, but they got away with it. As a result, "the storm passed and everyone was happy" which brings up the notion that ignorance is bliss. As we see that connection of Calixta's actions and thoughts to the storm, her contradictions become exaggerated because the change was so sudden between her fear for Bibi to being caressed by Alcee. When she gives into temptation she no longer focuses on the storm and then the storm fades away, as you said it is a metaphor for the fragile relationship of Bobinot and Calixta, and Bobinot and Calixta's relationship is re-patched in a paradoxical way. |
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Post by Jenna Min on Aug 29, 2021 16:34:40 GMT -8
The Storm starts off with a storm that surely represents the way Calixta feels. Calixta says something along the lines of how she's furiously waiting by the window for the storm to end, however, when Alcee shows up front, the story protrays her feelings as excited. Moreover, in the middle of the story, a chinaberry tree gets striked by a bolt, which is a very symbolic and important piece in the story. In How to Read Literature Like a Professor, symbols are a very important piece in analyzing literature. Chinaberry tree represents the good and evil, portraying both perspectives from Calixta and Alcee's affair with each other. The good side could say that both weren't happy with their life, but the bad side is that they are being deceitful towards each others families. This shows a clear understanding for the audience to see both perspectives.
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Post by Jenna Min on Aug 29, 2021 16:37:13 GMT -8
The storm intensifies when Calixta and Alcee are alone together, but the two are laughing and enjoying each other's companies. This serves as a contradictory because while the weather becomes more violent outside, Calixta and Alcee are enjoying their time together inside a shelter, barely even paying attention to the storm. At the same time, this shows that Calixta and Alcee's past feelings for each other have never went away throughout the years and releases like a "storm" when they're guaranteed to be alone together. The storm intensifying when Calixta and Alcee are together also signify that a peaceful love between them is unattainable. Hello Celina, this is so good. I also agree with you and I see very good points that you make (especially how the storm represents Calixta and Alcee's past feelings for each other). I also think the storm could represent how their love would be most likely hated because storms aren't very fun. |
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Post by Bowen Wang on Aug 29, 2021 16:52:32 GMT -8
According to HTRLLAP, the weather condition in a story usually represent a dangerous and horrified situation and atmosphere. However, in the story "The Storm" by author Kate Chopin, the standard effect of the weather condition contradict the setting of the story. In THis case, the storm that occurs in the background of the narrative represents Alcée and Calixta's affair. As the husband and the kid are outside trying to have a place to stay, the wife is having sexual intercourse with another man. The storm also represents a loss of memory, as unexpected events that occur throughout life, people tend to forget them after it happens. This also has correlation and symbolizes the affair between the wife and man, it is something that isn't remembered and forgotten as time goes on.
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Post by Bowen Wang on Aug 29, 2021 17:08:00 GMT -8
Kate Chopin's short story, "The Storm", revolves around the disastrous setting in atmosphere between the numerous characters that are facing nature alone. From the beginning of the story, for instance, there existed a "sinister intention from the west, accompanied by a sullen, threatening roar" (Chopin 1). This mention of a sinister intention is the storm that is approaching. However, there stood a contradiction between the setting and the events in the story as the events that existed was not uniform to the setting. The setting was continuously pressuring and ominous to the characters among the story, but different characters reacted differently to the same storm. Based on circumstance, some characters felt safe in their location, while others felt uneasy. Based on How to Read Literature Like a Professor, the text states "geography can also define or even develop character" (Foster 116). This context indicates that no matter what circumstance the characters came through, the actual geography they resided in was what constituted their character. If the location was safe, then the characters feel safe, contradicting the idea of a dangerous setting. However, if the location was unsafe, then the characters feel unsafe, even though the storm exists throughout all of the characters. I truly agree with you, Luigi! From my own point, I can also see that each character in the story has a different reaction toward the storm. And the facts of the safe feeling from some of the characters contradicted with the dangerous setting of the storm, while some other don't. |
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Post by gracetran on Aug 29, 2021 17:57:15 GMT -8
In "The Storm", we see the great contradiction between the setting and atmosphere during the storm, and after the storm. During the storm, the weather is shown in a negative connotation, and creates a frightened and eerie feeling: "The rain was coming down in sheets...enveloping the distant wood in gray mist...A [lightning] bolt struck a tall chinaberry tree..." (Chopin 3). In correlation to this stormy weather, the moment between Alcée and Calixta parallels with it, as they are both married and commit an act of evil; furthermore, they go against each of their spouses. This deed by Alcée and Calixta represents the frightening storm. On the contrary, after their deed, "The rain was over; and the sun was turning the glistening green world into a palace of gems" (Chopin 5). The storm was over, both literally and figuratively. This contradiction emphasizes that the storm was used as a sense of clarity for Alcée and Calixta because soon after, everyone was happy, calm, and things were back to normal, although it was odd.
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Post by gracetran on Aug 29, 2021 18:02:42 GMT -8
The Storm starts off with a storm that surely represents the way Calixta feels. Calixta says something along the lines of how she's furiously waiting by the window for the storm to end, however, when Alcee shows up front, the story protrays her feelings as excited. Moreover, in the middle of the story, a chinaberry tree gets striked by a bolt, which is a very symbolic and important piece in the story. In How to Read Literature Like a Professor, symbols are a very important piece in analyzing literature. Chinaberry tree represents the good and evil, portraying both perspectives from Calixta and Alcee's affair with each other. The good side could say that both weren't happy with their life, but the bad side is that they are being deceitful towards each others families. This shows a clear understanding for the audience to see both perspectives. Hi Jenna! I really love your ability to draw back "The Story" to HTRLLAP. I agree that symbols are vital in literature, especially in this particular story. To further go on your analysis of the chinaberry tree, I think that it also shows the beginning of a turning point in their lives, and we have no idea if it will be good or evil; hence, the meaning being good or evil. The lighting bolt striking the chinaberry tree has us wondering throughout the story and leaves a mysterious mood, while Alcée and Calixta proceed with their scene. |
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Post by Lorraine Anderson on Aug 29, 2021 18:29:26 GMT -8
The setting and events in "The Storm" contradict each other because outside of the house Chopin describes the weather as dark, sinister, and threatening. In HTRLLAP, it discusses how weather is never just weather. Rain ca mean many things but when paired with words such as dark, sinister, and threatening, that reflects on to the rain and gives it a negative connotation. The contradiction between the events in the story and the setting comes from the dark and stormy weather with the ecstasy-filled affair that is described using the word white repeatedly. The storm outside creates cold, heavy, and muddy paths, but inside Calixta and Alcee are white, pure, and warm. An alternate interpretation is that the father and son are victims of Calixta's sin because afterwards they are covered in mud and desperately trying to rid themselves of it, while Calixta is clean and happy at home, feeling no remorse for straying from her family.
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