Examining “The Storm” from a Feminist Lens

[Ms. Miller, MAED & MA]

Consider your reading of “The Storm” from a feminist perspective. How might this lens contribute to your understanding of the reading in general and the setting?
No word count
Please respond to at least 2 other classmates.

Link: www.simplypsychology.org/feminist-theory-sociology.html

[Heena Bista]

Reading “The Storm” from a feminist perspective, we can view Calixta’s romantic relationships from a unique stance. It is important to account for how the narrative takes place in the 1800s as the story references the popularity of shrimps in a can as a common snack, a snack that was heavily popularized in the 1800s in addition to other references made throughout the text like when Alcee arrived at the house by horse and the lack of technological communication like telephones. Considering how “The Storm” took place in the 1800s, we must understand the societal norms placed upon women during this time, especially on housewives. In the beginning of the text, we can see how Calixta feels unhappy in her role as a housewife as she is stuck sewing furiously and doing other miscellaneous duties around the house. Seeing how unsatisfied Calixta is in her position, it begs the question of why she is with Bobint, especially considering her deep desires with Alcee. First, we must consider how she and Bobint have a son together and during this time it was seen as her duty to care for him as his mother and make sacrifices for her husband and her son rather than to put her own desires first. In addition, divorce was considered a shameful act in the 1800s so rather than doing so, Calixta cheating on her husband with Alcee in a way was empowering as she asserts her own autonomy as a woman. Furthermore, during this time period it was almost normalized for men to cheat on their wives rather than the women. This is why the author, Kate Chopin hesitated on publishing this controversial work for its time but is now heavily appreciated today as it exhibits how women have overcome strict social constructs. Although Calixta did cheat on her husband, it does seem as if she always desired to be with Alcee but was not allowed to do so due to societal norms based on class and power as it is prominent that Calixta and her husband do not have the same social standing as Alcee. In a similar manner, Alcee may have not wanted to be with Calixta because of her low social status. Furthermore, the text dives deeper into feminine stereotypes as the story frequently mentions “white” to symbolize purity.

[Jaron Hallberg]

Through reading the story through the lens of a feminist, the common argument that could be made is that Calixta, from the beginning of the story, suffers from the disadvantages from being a woman in the 19th century. The story presents certain examples by showing her separated in her assigned tasks as a mother. Her husband and son spend the day outside casually purchasing groceries whilst Calixta is sat at their home working tirelessly by sewing, doing laundry, and preparing her son's sunday clothes. This intensity is represented through the time she takes to wipe her head of sweat and the fact she doesn't see the approaching storm. Again, the feminist lens may come to conclude the harshness of the burden of labor a wife or even a mother was tasked with during such a time period. The relief she later achieves only by having an affair with her husband, suggests that labor is not the only thing a woman suffers during the 19th century, but also possible verbal or physical abuse. The theory is also suggested in the description of her son's demeanor; the narrator describes Bibi as overly mature for his age and that his father talks to him almost on an even field of intellect. The way the story also doesn't out describe the ways of possible abuse can suggest that domestic abuse during the 19th century commonly went unnoticed as any form of retaliation would leave the wife questioned by others as to her loyalty to her husband. The more vague argument which the feminist perspective might make is through the affair itself. During the moments before it Calixta doesn't seem to wish to act on her feelings because she knows that such an act is wrong, but isn't until Alce pushes her to give into her feelings does she finally do so. The encouragement from Alce is capable of being seen as a form of manipulation placed onto Calixta, which women suffered more, also as a result of if they retaliated in some way they would be questioned by their surrounding societal normalities. To serve as one more argument which the feminist perspective might make is from the last moments of the story where after Calixta and Alce had their affair, the ending of the storm serves as a feeling of relief which washes over both Calixta and Alce, but also the moment which her husband and son return home and which she understands she must then return to her original persona of being the obedient and overcaring housewife, showing that though she got away from the pressures of being a female in the 19th century she never truely escaped.

[Mia R]

Calixta is described in her very first scene doing tasks a housewife typically would, like sewing for example. However, she is described as feeling “feverishly warm” and it is stated that sweat began to bead on her face. So much so, that she felt the need to unfasten her sacque at her throat. We can tell immediately that she is overworked and feels overwhelmed with her duties at the house. At the time, the societal norm was for the woman to become a mother and tend to the home, while the husband went out and worked to provide for the family, so it is clear why Calixta is doing what she’s doing. Although, we can easily insinuate that she is tired and fed up with being a homemaker and housewife, and that she wanted to get away from her assigned role within society. Knowing how overwhelmed she feels helps us to understand why she may have had this affair. She wanted some sense of freedom, or maybe even just a break, from her household duties. This need for even just a break is what drove her to give in to her desires. The societal standards placed on women at this time put a great deal of pressure on all women, as seen with Calixta. The storm itself also represents the confusion and hesitation Calixta may have felt before finally giving in to her lust. As soon as she saw Alce, the rain began to fall slowly. Then when he asked to come inside, the storm intensified and finally, when they were in the house together, a decision was made and the storm was at its worst. While Calixta’s hesitation may have been in part because of the negativity surrounding the idea of an affair, it also was in part due to the ridicule she would have faced had the affair been discovered. Society would not have shamed Alce, he would have gotten away with it, facing no consequence. But, because Calixta was a woman, she would have been ridiculed and demeaned, further representing the societal norms and standards placed upon women.

[Arlene Pena]

"The Storm" by Kate Chopin is a story that explores subjects typically viewed as ‘taboo’ at the time of this writing. The main plot consists of two married people giving into their selfish desires and having an affair during a terrible storm. To many, this short story makes the reader feel conflicted yet in awe of the raw, forbidden passion expressed by the two characters, Calixta and Alce. But what is overlooked is the reason behind why a woman, who is happily married and a mother, would give into such unacceptable temptation so easily. It’s rather simple when the text is analyzed through a feminist lens. Assuming the story takes place in the 18th century, Calixta lived in, what the reader would assume is, a rather healthy home where her role as a housewife was inevitable. Yet, this does not confirm that Calixta is satisfied with her expected role in society, one that she did not choose to fulfill. In “The Storm”, Calixta finds herself trapped in the safety of her home, away from the chaos of the storm brewing outside. It is then that she encounters Alce, a man whom she had once had sexual relations with before she settled down with her husband, Bobint. Their tension is as clear as day the moment Alce steps foot onto her property, and it only continues to increase as the story progresses. With the two confined behind closed doors, away from the prying eyes of societal norms, they have the freedom to do as they please without fear of being judged or outcasted. To have a marital affair was almost as extreme as committing treason at the time, at least for women. Yet, Calixta and Alce set their societal expectations aside just for a moment to give into their own personal desires, their want for one another. Calixta found this opportunity to temporarily escape her life as a mother and a wife, a chance to feel free like she used to be before she was tied down by marriage. In a time period where women live, not for themselves, but for their husbands and children, it was sensible for Calixta to so desperately search for an escape away from societal pressures set upon her. She had already accepted the life handed to her, because she had no choice, which explains why she felt not an ounce of guilt after having the affair. Even though it was just for a moment, it was enough to grant her peace of mind before having to restore societal norms and returning to her public life. Societal expectations set upon women are what molds them, but it is also what brings them to their breaking point.

[Abby Lin]

In Kate Chopin's short story, "The Storm", the story illustrates emotional tension and an affair between two characters, Calixta and Alce. Throughout the text, a storm takes place which symbolizes the relationship between Alce and Calixta. As Alce arrives at the house, the rain began to pour. When Alce and Calixta are alone in the house, the storm rages and lightning strikes the chinaberry tree, a symbol of balance between good and evil. As Bobint and Bibi arrive home and the intimacy between Alce and Calixta ends, the storm passes and the sun shines. This short story took place in the 19th century when women had little charge of their lives. Calixta can be seen taking the role as the caretaker of the house, sewing and making supper for her family. In the affair Calixta finally has a chance to express her desires, although it might not be the best decision. Calixta and Alce relieved their long time crave for each other and broke the societal norms that were put in place. In the timeline of the story, it was normal and more reasonable for men to break social norms, but not so much for women. Calixta went against this and satisfied herself with another man, expressing her power and giving herself a voice. There are two main perspectives to this short story, either the empowerment and relief of the Calixta and Alce, or the affair that will cause damage to both families of the culprits. This pulls the story back to the lightning striking the chinaberry tree, symbolizing good and evil.

[Michelle To]

In "The Storm" by Kate Chopin, using a feminist lens to look at the story brings up on some slight changes in interpretation. In the story, the main thing separating Alce and Calixta despite their "love" for one another is the difference in class. Alce is a higher class man of Creole descent, while Calixta is a lower class woman of Acadian/Cuban descent. In an article that analyzed Kate Chopin's early novel "In the Cadian Dance" and "The Storm" (sequel to "In the Cadian Dance") it studies how the 2 were forbidden by society from marrying one another despite the mutual attraction because of the difference in class. But from a feminist lens, it studies how it is also because she is a women, therefore she would be considered a tramp if people ever discovered their eloping, chasing after a man for the social status and money. Back during the era that the book was published, people still heavily blamed women for all things related to them, unwanted pregnancy? The woman should've kept her legs closed despite the fact that a man had opened them in the first place. A women being unmarried due to not fitting into the beauty standards? That's a shame, she should've worked harder for men to like her despite the fact that many men have unrealistic beauty standards and expect to have the best when they don't deserve the best. A women was murdered? What was she wearing? She probably asked for it despite having no verbal or physical consent. All the statements are, oftentimes, still said in this day and age, but were more prevalent in the time period when it was posted.

[Addi]

“The Storm” represents the societal pressures placed on women by people in the 18-19th century. Affairs were seen in a negative light for women while the men didn’t have any consequences. Calixta is hesitant to give into these desires that she had for Alce by referencing Bibi during the storm and holding his clothes because she knows she’ll be looked down upon if she were to commit such an act. On the other hand, Alce plops himself onto a chair and initiates most of the actions while trying to distract her from thinking about Bib when he says “don’t be frightened. Nothing can happen (to Bibi)”. His family is away and he asks his wife to remain in Biloxi because he’s not worried about her finding out about the affair. Meanwhile, Calixta is worried for her husband and child, who she makes dinner for when they return because that’s her role in the house. The house and the storm represents the boundary between these societal norms and secret desires, with the fog concealing these actions. Without the storm and house, this affair would’ve never occurred. Not only because it provided the physical boundary, but they were isolated from societal norms. Calixta is described using the word white, because she's supposed to represent virginity and innocence. Bibi and Bobnt come back dirty, because Calixta has ruined them by having an affair because women aren’t allowed to do such a thing.

[Peter Xu]

In “The Storm”, a short story by Kate Chopin, there are many feminist ideas that are present throughout the story, some more obvious than others. This story was written in the 1800s, but published almost an entire century later after the death of the author. This is likely because feminist ideas were largely controversial during the 1800s and Chopin didn’t want to receive backlash for it. One underlying feminist theme throughout the story is the feminist goal to end sexual violence and promote sexual freedom. Although in this story Alcee’s and Calixta’s feelings are mutual, the author often uses the color white when describing Calixta and even aspects of her house like her room. This signifies Calixta’s innocence and can Alcee’s escalation of the affair can symbolize the theme of sexual violence against women and their taken advantage of. Another feminist theme that is underlying in the story is the feminist goal of expanding human choice. Although the morality of the affair is debatable, it symbolizes Calixta following her true desires and breaking societal norms which is how Chopin criticizes the common societal expectation for women to be orderly and complacent.

[Rebecca Kwan]

From a feminist perspective, one of the key aspects of "The Storm" is how it depicts female sexuality in a way that defies 19th-century norms. Despite Clarixta being married, the marriage is portrayed as lacking passion, and she is clearly unsatisfied. This is a subtle critique by Chopin about the way marriage in the past confined women and suppressed their needs. When she sees Alce, she gives in to her inner desires and makes her own decision to have a sexual encounter with him. Instead of portraying her as immoral or dirty, Chopin portrays this event as a form of empowerment for Calixta. The storm can be seen as a metaphor for Calixta's repressed desires, which may be why there hasn't been a storm in years; she has never been sexually charged in years. Finally, as the storm grows, her desires are unleashed in a way that reflects her autonomy. The storm also acts as protection, freeing her to experience sexual fulfillment without guilt or punishment, which contrasts the restrictive social norms at the time. Personally, I think her decision to have a sexual encounter with Alce was completely her own, and did not act out of coercion or manipulation, but rather out of her own desires. Chopin avoids any judgment and instead celebrates her as a woman who understands and embraces her own sexual needs. Furthermore, in the 19th century, women were either viewed as pure, devoted wives or morally corrupt if they embraced their sexuality. However, in the story, Calixta is portrayed as both, allowing her to be a caring wife and mother, and a woman with sexual desires, which does not negate her value. This is evident as during their time in the house, themes of the color white are constantly present, defying the typical picture of being "tainted" from sexual experiences. Therefore, this opposes traditional gender norms where women's sexuality was often viewed as something to be controlled.

[Heena Bista]

Aug 23, 2024 10:33:49 GMT -8 Jaron Hallberg said:

Through reading the story through the lens of a feminist, the common argument that could be made is that Calixta, from the beginning of the story, suffers from the disadvantages from being a woman in the 19th century. The story presents certain examples by showing her separated in her assigned tasks as a mother. Her husband and son spend the day outside casually purchasing groceries whilst Calixta is sat at their home working tirelessly by sewing, doing laundry, and preparing her son's sunday clothes. This intensity is represented through the time she takes to wipe her head of sweat and the fact she doesn't see the approaching storm. Again, the feminist lens may come to conclude the harshness of the burden of labor a wife or even a mother was tasked with during such a time period. The relief she later achieves only by having an affair with her husband, suggests that labor is not the only thing a woman suffers during the 19th century, but also possible verbal or physical abuse. The theory is also suggested in the description of her son's demeanor; the narrator describes Bibi as overly mature for his age and that his father talks to him almost on an even field of intellect. The way the story also doesn't out describe the ways of possible abuse can suggest that domestic abuse during the 19th century commonly went unnoticed as any form of retaliation would leave the wife questioned by others as to her loyalty to her husband. The more vague argument which the feminist perspective might make is through the affair itself. During the moments before it Calixta doesn't seem to wish to act on her feelings because she knows that such an act is wrong, but isn't until Alce pushes her to give into her feelings does she finally do so. The encouragement from Alce is capable of being seen as a form of manipulation placed onto Calixta, which women suffered more, also as a result of if they retaliated in some way they would be questioned by their surrounding societal normalities. To serve as one more argument which the feminist perspective might make is from the last moments of the story where after Calixta and Alce had their affair, the ending of the storm serves as a feeling of relief which washes over both Calixta and Alce, but also the moment which her husband and son return home and which she understands she must then return to her original persona of being the obedient and overcaring housewife, showing that though she got away from the pressures of being a female in the 19th century she never truely escaped.

Hello Jaron, I also agree that from a feminist’s point of view, Calixta was suffering from societal expectations placed onto women in the 1800s. We can see that Calixta does not look pleased to do housework while her husband and son go out to the market but she is essentially forced into that role as a housewife. I liked hearing your perspective on the possibility of domestic abuse in “The Storm” as it is not something I considered and is something I should look into more as I personally did not believe it was prevalent however, I do completely agree with you about how Calixta cheating on her husband with Alcee helped her escape the burden and expectations of being a woman in the 1800s even though the “storm” did pass and she had to go back to her everyday life afterwards instead of fulfilling her true desires. Your analysis gave me new insight on different feminist perspectives on “The Storm”.

[Heena Bista]

Aug 23, 2024 10:34:34 GMT -8 Mia R said:

Calixta is described in her very first scene doing tasks a housewife typically would, like sewing for example. However, she is described as feeling “feverishly warm” and it is stated that sweat began to bead on her face. So much so, that she felt the need to unfasten her sacque at her throat. We can tell immediately that she is overworked and feels overwhelmed with her duties at the house. At the time, the societal norm was for the woman to become a mother and tend to the home, while the husband went out and worked to provide for the family, so it is clear why Calixta is doing what she’s doing. Although, we can easily insinuate that she is tired and fed up with being a homemaker and housewife, and that she wanted to get away from her assigned role within society. Knowing how overwhelmed she feels helps us to understand why she may have had this affair. She wanted some sense of freedom, or maybe even just a break, from her household duties. This need for even just a break is what drove her to give in to her desires. The societal standards placed on women at this time put a great deal of pressure on all women, as seen with Calixta. The storm itself also represents the confusion and hesitation Calixta may have felt before finally giving in to her lust. As soon as she saw Alce, the rain began to fall slowly. Then when he asked to come inside, the storm intensified and finally, when they were in the house together, a decision was made and the storm was at its worst. While Calixta’s hesitation may have been in part because of the negativity surrounding the idea of an affair, it also was in part due to the ridicule she would have faced had the affair been discovered. Society would not have shamed Alce, he would have gotten away with it, facing no consequence. But, because Calixta was a woman, she would have been ridiculed and demeaned, further representing the societal norms and standards placed upon women.

Hello Mia, I found that your discussion post was very insightful and something I agree with. I agree with you that Calixta definitely felt overworked in the beginning of the story handling all the household duties while her husband and son went out to the market, but I like how you pulled out the phrase “feverishly warm” to pinpoint how Kate Chopin helps readers understand the state of Calixta. I definitely believe that Calixta’s affair with her former lover Alcee helped her escape her role as a housewife in the 1800s even for a little while. Although it is quite problematic for Calixta to cheat on her husband, it was something that gave her a sense of autonomy and control over her own life. We can see that even after the storm passes, Calixta returns to her normal life but still feels more relieved compared to the start of the story.

[Kaavya B]

In Kate Chopin’s “The Storm," the author employs various references that allow the reader to examine the story from a feminist perspective. Upon deeper analysis, the reader can identify Chopin's choices throughout the text as representations of the misogynistic norms expected of women. During the passionate scene between Calixta and Alce, Calixta’s body is constantly objectified by Alce, describing purely her physical features in a sexual manner. However, Alce escaping this physical description proves the oversexualization that women were, and still are, commonly subjected to by men. Looking at the story from a more general perspective, the repeated presence of the color “white” when Calixta is in the scene also falls under this theme. White is generally used to symbolize purity, fidelity, and honesty, and its use is ironic because Alce’s and Calixta’s actions demonstrate the exact opposite of that through their illicit love affair. However, while Calixta is contrasted with white on multiple occasions throughout the text, Alce never has to endure this comparison. Once again, these sexist standards Calixta endures reinforce the norm of the era where women were expected to be virgins while men could do as they please. Furthermore, the reader often finds themselves criticizing Calixta rather than Alce regarding their affair, making us aware of how normalized this unjust degradation of women has become. Chopin flawlessly weaves these subtle details into her story to highlight women’s struggles, standing up to society at a time when women had no voice.

[Matthew Lee]

By examining "The Storm" from a feminist point of view, we can derive a completely new meaning from the text that enhances the story and explains Kate Chopin's motives behind her writings. From a surface level analysis, the story simply follows scandalous love affair between two married characters, Calixta and Alce, spurred on and paralleled by a severe thunderstorm. However, by uncovering minor details about setting and time period, we can realize Chopin's subtle attack on unjust societal norms and taboo topics which plagued women during her time. The story explores sexuality in a way considered scandalous during its time, where women were expected to maintain more modest appearances and did not have the same freedom that men often had. While Chopin is not necessarily advocating for adultery, she is instead arguing that women should have autonomy over their own desires and wants, rather than having to depend on men and cater to men's needs, as was societally normal for them during the 19th and 20th centuries. Chopin wants to remove the taboo stigma surrounding women and sexuality, portraying Calixta as a moral character who is unable to resist Alce, to argue that sexuality and morality do not have to be opposites. By making both Calixta an Alce otherwise seemingly virtuous characters, Chopin comments on the grave consequences of restricting freedom.

[Matthew Lee]

Aug 23, 2024 10:36:00 GMT -8 Abby Lin said:

In Kate Chopin's short story, "The Storm", the story illustrates emotional tension and an affair between two characters, Calixta and Alce. Throughout the text, a storm takes place which symbolizes the relationship between Alce and Calixta. As Alce arrives at the house, the rain began to pour. When Alce and Calixta are alone in the house, the storm rages and lightning strikes the chinaberry tree, a symbol of balance between good and evil. As Bobint and Bibi arrive home and the intimacy between Alce and Calixta ends, the storm passes and the sun shines. This short story took place in the 19th century when women had little charge of their lives. Calixta can be seen taking the role as the caretaker of the house, sewing and making supper for her family. In the affair Calixta finally has a chance to express her desires, although it might not be the best decision. Calixta and Alce relieved their long time crave for each other and broke the societal norms that were put in place. In the timeline of the story, it was normal and more reasonable for men to break social norms, but not so much for women. Calixta went against this and satisfied herself with another man, expressing her power and giving herself a voice. There are two main perspectives to this short story, either the empowerment and relief of the Calixta and Alce, or the affair that will cause damage to both families of the culprits. This pulls the story back to the lightning striking the chinaberry tree, symbolizing good and evil.

Hi Abby, I really enjoy how you focused attention on the specific societal norms expected of women during the 19th century, taking into account when Chopin wrote and published the story. I think that the point that "women had little charge of their lives" is really important to highlight, as the affair Calixta undergoes is almost like a way she defiantly takes control over her life and her actions, casting aside her morals for her desires. I would like to see how the long-lasting impacts and effects of the affair shape out to affect both characters. Great analysis!