Summaries Essay Example

Katie Chopin wrote the short story “The Storm”, this story was the sequel to “At the Cadian Ball”. These stories were wrote in 1898, however they were not put into publishing until 1969.
Bobinôt and his four-year-old son, Bibi, are at Friedheimer's store when a particularly violent storm emerges. The two decide to remain at the store until the storm passes. While this is happening, back at their house, Calixta (his wife) is so occupied with her sewing that, at first, she does not notice the storm moving in. Finally, she notices that it is growing darker outside and decides to shut the windows.
The storm worsens and Calixta invites Alcée (a friend of the family that was riding by as Calixta was trying to get the windows closed before the storm) into her home until it abates. Alcée is hesitant to come in and stays outside until it becomes apparent that the storm is not going to let up. Calixta goes over to the window and observes the intensity of the storm and worries about her husband and son. Alcée attempts to comfort her and reminisces about the passion they once felt for each another. As the storm increases in intensity, so does the passion of the two former lovers. Alcée brings up the passion and love they once had for one another. The adulterers' sexual encounter ends at the same time as the storm. Alcée rides off on his horse.
Bobinôt and Bibi return from the store and Calixta immediately embraces them. Bobinôt presents his gift of the can of shrimp to his wife and she remarks that they will feast that night. Meanwhile, Alcée writes a loving letter to his wife, Clarisse, and encourages her to stay in Biloxi as long as she needs. Though she is devoted to her husband, Clarisse feels that she is able to forego intimacy with him for some time. The story ends with the short line, "So the storm passed and every one was happy."
Raymond Carver is the author of “They’re Not Your Husband”, this story is very brutal and has been reviewed to make many people cringe. The wife works as a waitress in a diner. The husband is sitting at the counter, hoping to get a free meal. Two men come in and scrutinize his wife from behind as she bends over. Not knowing who the man is, they make a number of really rude remarks about her body, concluding with a suggestion that they guess she can still attract men because "some like them fat". The husband is really upset by this. When he and the wife are going to bed, he basically tells her she needs to lose some weight and tells her to stand naked in front of the mirror. He goads her onto a diet and when she begins to lose weight but looks haggard and feels week her co-workers express concern over her health. She tells her husband and he says to her "They're Not Your Husband". After she has lost nine pounds or so, the husband is back in the diner. He is sitting next to a man he does not know and he tries to draw the man into a conversation about the body of his wife.