Elizabeth Wiseman
ENGL 1302
Frances Suarez
2/9/10
Week Three: Discussion Question Responses In “The Storm” by Kate Chopin, the weather creates the atmosphere in the story starting from the beginning. Calixta was “sewing furiously on a sewing machine . . . and did not notice the storm approaching,” up until Alcee arrived (270). The storm makes the atmosphere more intense as “the rain beat upon the low, shingled roof with force and clatter that threatened to break an entrance and deluge them there” (271). As the storm draws closer, both Calixta and Alcee put away their worries about acting on their sexual tension. When they were almost finished “the growl of the thunder was distant and passing away (272). At the very end of this story it says “so the storm passed and everyone was happy” this shows that the storm was not just the atmosphere but also the storm symbolizes as their sexual tension. They were happy again not because the storm was over but because they were with each other.
In “The Storm” by Kate Chopin, the weather causes many effects on the character’s actions. While Bibi and Bobinot were out at Friedheimer’s store, the storm made it so that they had to “remain there till the storm passed,” instead of being able to go back home to Calixta (270). The storm also caused Alcee, whom claimed that he had “an intention to remain outside,” to come into Calixta’s home until the storm had passed (270). While the storm was still occurring Calixta was worrying about her son