The Storm Essay

What meaning do you find in the title The Storm? What details in The Storm emphasize the fact that Babinot loves his wife? What details reveal how imperfectly he comprehends her?

The Storm as the title of this short story holds the meaning to represent three components within the plotline. The first component the title represents is the physical storm. The second component the title represents is the storm of passion. The third component the title represents is the marriage storm. All together, the title generalizes three different genres of a storm. The first component the title represents is the physical storm. The leaves were so still that even Bibi thought it was going to rain. (Chopin) The storm is a great one, descriptively portrayed. The clouds are explained to be rolling in with sinister intentions. Along with the sinister clouds, a threatening roar. Personification is used to describe the characteristics of this storm.

The second component the title represents is the storm of passion. Alcee, an old lover of Calixta came by before the physical storm got the best of the land. He was requested to stay inside the house with Calixta until the storm passed. She was worried about the well being of her son, so Alcee embraced her in attempts to comfort her leading to an arousal of old desires. He looked down into her eyes and there was nothing for him to do but to gather her lips in a kiss. It reminded him of Assumption. (Chopin) Assumption was a time back when Alcee and Calixta first experience sexual passion. They did not heed the crashing torrents, and the roar of the elements made her laugh as she lay in his arms. (Chopin) They yet again go through this love storm of passion mindlessly.

The third component the title represents is the storm of marriage. Bobint 's explanations and apologies which he had been composing all along the way, died on his lips as Calixta felt him to see if he were dry, and seemed to express nothing but satisfaction at their safe return. (Chopin) In other words, Bobint was worried that Calixta would be upset. Little did he know, the storm of passion overrode the significance of the physical storm to Calixta. Then there is the marriage between Alcee and Clarisse, where he wrote to her that very night. It was a loving letter, full of tender solicitude. He told her not to hurry back, but if she and the babies liked it at Biloxi, to stay a month longer As for Clarisse, she was charmed upon receiving her husband's letter. (Chopin) The physical storm and storm of passion have both passed, leaving everything back to normal.

The little details of Bobints love expresses on a larger scale in The Storm. While he was at the store with his son Bibi, he bought a can of shrimps for Calixta was very fond of them. After the storm died out, Bobint and Bibi arrive home, but before entering the house he made sure his son and himself was presentable for his wife. My! Bibi, w'at will yo' mama say! You ought to be ashame'. You oughta' put on those good pants. Look at 'em! An' that mud on yo' collar! How you got that mud on yo' collar, Bibi? I never saw such a boy!When Bobint gets ready for the explanation hes been planning the whole way back home, Calixta brushes it aside. He really cares for her input and takes her seriously for he really loves her. Calixta does not see the value of this for she is preoccupied with thoughts of what just happened between Alcee and herself.

Bobint imperfectly comprehends his wife Calixta. He is blinded his love towards her. He is not able to comprehend her cover-ups. She tells him that she was uneasy about their safe being. This is not the whole truth though, just a small portion of it. For the most part, she is lying to her husband but Bobint buys into it thinking she is telling the truth. The reality was that she was busy cheating on her husband with an old time lover.

The end of this short story states, So the storm passed and every one was happy. (Chopin) So to speak, the storm was a temporary phase; the passion has come and gone. The actions of Calixta and Alcee were just those of the moment. What Bobint does not know, will not hurt him. As well as what Clarisse does not know, she will not be harmed. All that matters is that the storm has passed and everyone is happy.