“The storm” by kate chopin
The character of Calixta is the protagonist or main character of the story although she appears to be visible only in a few of the pages in the novel. However, the main bulk of her character comes from her personal point of view about love and life. I have chosen the character of Calixta because of her mysterious character that was slowly revealed until the end of the story. Calixta’s character is interesting because there more to her than what meets the eye.
In the beginning, the audience perceives Calixta’s character to be ordinary in the sense that she is only normal housewife for keeping her home exceptionally clean. As a home maker, she is best in everything that she does when it comes to sewing, washing dishes, laundry, cleaning the house, and cooking food for her family. She is a dutiful wife to her husband Bobinot and a good mother to their son Bibi. She always wants to keep the house spick and span that drives both her husband and son worried every time they come home for fear that they might bring mud and dirt inside the house. Such conclusion can be seen under Section 4 of the book which mentions that Bobinot and Bibi are careful not to get Calixta upset by not dragging mud inside the house every time they come home. Calixta is a super woman in their home because she performs a good deal of household chores even if they have a maid at home named Sylvie.
The story also mentions that Calixta is gifted with physical attributes for her beautiful face and body. Even if she is married and has a child of her own, she was able to maintain her figure which made her attractive. This was the same reason that even her old flame Alcee felt attracted to her even if they had parted ways for more than five years she still looks attractive.
Even if she added a few pounds to her figure which made a bit fuller than five years ago before she got married, her vigor and flare did not fade. She is still beautiful with her blue eyes that can melt any person she stared. Her flowing soft yellow blonde hair despite being disheveled by the wind and rain made her even more attractive not only in the eyes of her husband, but made Alcee want more of her. She is a lively soul that can awaken every person around her. Although Calixta’s character was more physically emphasized in the story, the author also gave a glimpse of her beautiful soul.
Although she may appear to be happy and contented with her married life, Calixta feels that she is missing something to keep her fire alive. It will seem that getting married has made her grounded to see things in a different perspective. Additionally, she did not lose the qualities which made her unique and one of a kind in so many ways. One of which is the power to captivate the hearts of people around her, even her old flame Alcee seemed to notice it that he gave in to his sexual desire to possess Calixta even if she was already married.
During the storm, Calixta portrayed to role of a good wife and mother when she was worried for the welfare of Bibi and Bobinot who were trapped in the store. However, the storm also became the opportunity for her to awaken her sexual desires that she had long been ignoring. As a wife, she did everything to please her husband by taking care of their child and making him coffee and supper. Women during the 19th century played the role of a home maker, keeping the house clean, raising the children and tolerating their husbands’ carnal desires (Krauss, 2005, p.1). However, they also neglect the women’s own sexual desires. Calixta was worried for the safety of her husband and child during the storm. She found comfort in the arms of Alcee where she felt secured and safe wrapped in his arms as they both ignored the storm and fell to their carnal desires.
The character of Calixta in story of “The Storm” represents the role of women and femininity. The story focused on the role of a wife and a mother. Although, these two terms may appear to be similar because they represent the female gender, who love the same man, care and rear for their families, there is more to that because women also have their sexual needs and desires that have to be satisfied. Just like the character of Calixta, she was once single and free, and there was a point in her life that wanted to seek fulfillment that can only be provided by her sexual partner. It is a natural instinct for a woman to find pleasure in sexual intercourse. However, when a woman gets married, she no longer has own voice and become submissive to her husband and to fulfill his carnal desires, but not her own. The traditional role of women is to become domesticated as seen during the late 19th century (Krauss, 2005). In other words, even though there are several women who appeared to be contended with their domesticated roles and were stuck in their homes, there was still something missing in their lives that even their husbands cannot provide them. This was the same case of Calixta, who fulfilled her sexual satisfaction with her former boyfriend Alcee.
It was obvious that Calixta still has fond feelings for Alcee when she invited her in their home and wait until the storm has calmed before leaving. She felt excited when she saw him enter the house. During the storm, she felt Alcee’s embrace was warm and reassuring that she finally gave in to her sexual desires and ended up having the best sex of her life. Although their brief encounter was only fleeting, she was contented to have experienced everything she has hoped for after all those years. Both Calixta and Alcee felt extreme physical happiness when they were together that night and it only shows that they are unhappy with their respective marriages. Even if they had experienced pure pleasure when they were together, they still had to return to their families and live normal lives as if nothing happened. The story shows that Calixta is a victim of circumstance and that the world may be cruel to her. However, it was good to have experienced such happiness than not to have experienced it at all. It appears that Calixta loves her husband Bobinot and does not want to hurt him. She was worried for his safety when she was out in the storm and happy and relieved to see him return unharmed after the storm.
Towards the end of the story, Calixta’s character remained story and untouched emotionally by her sexual tryst with Alcee. It only shows that she still considered her family as the most valuable possession she had and she will never do anything to hurt them. Calixta was a selfless woman who will do anything to keep her loved ones happy and set aside her own happiness. The sexual encounter of Alcee and Calixta has only made her stronger as she held her head up high and faced the world. Alcee awakened her sexuality, which is a part of Calixta that she never knew exists.
References:
Krauss, K. (2005). Kate Chopin –“The Storm of The Storm”. University of North Texas: Texas.
