The Storm

by

Kate Chopin

The Thunderstorm

The thunderstorm that unfolds alongside the story’s action symbolizes the sexual encounter between Alcée and Calixta, two former lovers who are married to other people, ultimately implying that sex and sexual desire are natural…

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Shrimp

The can of shrimp symbolizes Calixta and Bobinôt’s traditional marriage, complete with rigid gender roles. At the realization that Calixta is home alone during such an intense thunderstorm, Bobinôt purchases a can of…

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The Color White

“The Storm” complicates the traditional symbolic significance of the color white—a common symbol for purity—by making it also represent sexual passion. First, Chopin describes the sensual areas of Calixta’s body—namely her throat and her…

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