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Post by Jodi Ahn on Aug 29, 2024 7:40:16 GMT -8
In Kate Chopin's "the storm" reading through a feminist lens reveals how the setting Shows themes of female sexuality and Anatomy. The storm symbolizes Calixta’s suppressed desires in the form of the storm showing the natural uncontrollable force of sexuality. As the storm gets stronger the house transforms into an environment where Calixta can express her desires freely without being reprimanded Challenging gender roles. The temporary nature of the storm allows her to express her sexual desires without societal repercussions breaking social norms. The calm after the storm reflects the return to societal expectations but the experience she has leaves her empowered and challenging the notion that female expression must be contained or punished. Through this setting, Chopin presents a nuanced exploration of the female identity and the quiet ways women resist societal constraints. Hi Alina! I totally agree with your views on the themes of sexuality and autonomy. Seeing the storm as not only a symbol of the relationships in the story, but also as Calixta's hidden desires is really interesting! I liked how you used the setting of the house as a catalyst fo Calixta's feelings and we also had similar ideas on challenging gender norms. The idea that she is empowering women that felt like their feelings must be contained or punished is also one that we share! |
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Post by Jodi Ahn on Aug 29, 2024 7:43:25 GMT -8
Reading Kate Chopin's "The Storm" through a feminist lens reveals the story’s critique of restrictive gender roles and its celebration of female sexual autonomy. Set in the late 19th century, a period marked by rigid societal expectations for women, the narrative challenges these norms by portraying Calixta’s affair with Alcée as a positive and liberating experience. The storm is a powerful symbol of Calixta’s emotional and sexual liberation, providing a brief but intense escape from the constraints of domestic life and societal expectations. This feminist perspective highlights the tension between Calixta’s public role as a dutiful wife and mother and her private desires, emphasizing how her actions challenge traditional views of female sexuality. By focusing on Calixta's pleasure and autonomy, the story critiques the limitations imposed on women, revealing a more nuanced and empowering depiction of female desire. Hi Chloe! I really like your idea on the celebration of female sexual autonomy. We have very similar ideas, because I mentioned the expression of her autonomy and gaining it back. I also found it interesting how you interpreted the story as portraying the affair positively and liberating because I hadn't thought of that! I really appreciate your connection of Calixta's private role as a traditional woman in society to her on pleasure and autonomy. |
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Post by Jodi Ahn on Aug 29, 2024 7:46:59 GMT -8
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 found your analysis of this story very interesting. Your analysis of the storms influence and the symbolism of such in the affair itself and the passing of it makes total sense. I also found the symbolism of the chinaberry tree riveting and it definitely marks a turning point in the story. We also had similar ideas on Calixta challenging gender ideals of the time! I also hadn't thought of the contrast between the empowerment and relief for Calixta but also the potential damage the affair could cause. Your ideas on the balance between good and evil are very interesting and I really appreciated your analysis! |
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Post by Abby Lin on Sept 13, 2024 10:25:09 GMT -8
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. After closely reviewing Heena's analysis, I strongly agree with her perspective on the stories reference to feminine stereotypes. She mentions how the time period placed societal norms upon people, especially women. Calixta's life is mentioned to be repetitive and boring as a housewife, following her husband's commands and taking care of the family. Women at the time were not permitted to speak out and defy norms. Calixta's affair with Alcee highlights her defiance against feminist stereotypes and grants power to her character. |
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Post by Abby Lin on Sept 16, 2024 9:33:54 GMT -8
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. While closely examining Jaron's perspective on "The Storm," I agree that Alce ultimately pushes Calixta into having the affair, although they both understood it was wrong. Alce manipulates Calixta's emotions and caused her to deft social norms in the 19th century. At the end Calixta understood that her role of being a loyal caretaker is back and she needs to serve rather than please herself and satisfy her needs. |
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