The Storm

"The Storm" may be interpreted as a condemnation of societal constraints upon feminine sexuality. As Calixta "unfastened her white sacque at the throat" she was taking off chains of oppression of her sexuality. When Calixta "nervously began to gather up from the floor the lengths of a cotton sheet which she had been sewing" she is putting her duties away for pleasure and is finally going to fulfill her birthright for passionate sex. In "The Storm" Calixta is a shameless married woman who "lifted her pretty chin in the air and laughed aloud" after committing an adulteress act. Kate Chopin had a unique style of writing for her time.

In Calixta's time, showing of the neck and chest was inappropriate and forbidden. So when "she unfastened her white sacque at the throat" she is expressing that she is a sexual being and is defying against restraints on feminine sexuality. Kate Chopin was a daring writer. In the time of the composition of the storm women were considered property and expected to accept their housewife duties. Women could not freely express their sexuality and Kate was out to change that.

As Calixta "nervously began to gather up from the floor the lengths of a cotton sheet which she had been sewing" she is rebelling against traditional 1890's womanhood. Women were not permitted to feel sexual. By putting it away she was lowering the priority of her duties for sex. Sex was something she was unfamiliar to and not something married women did for pleasure. Calixta is going all out!

When Alcee rides off, he smiles and Calixta "lifted her pretty chin in the air and laughed aloud." This action was a proclamation of her freedom from sexual oppression. Calixta was prepared for sex and embraced it. She is not ashamed of her act and she fulfilled her birthright for passionate sex. Calixta is a loose woman?

"The Storm may