Essay about Analysis of Atmosphere in Kate Chopins The...

Analysis of Atmosphere in The Storm Merriam Webster dictionary defines atmosphere as a) the whole mass of air surrounding the earth and b) the overall aesthetic effect of a work of art. Kate Chopin integrates these two definitions together effortlessly in her short story The Storm. The meteorological atmosphere parallels the literary atmosphere with the building tension, the culmination, and the aftermath. As the thunderstorm and the story begin, the reader can almost feel the tension in the air. Calixta is at home by herself, tending to her sewing, while her husband Bobinà ´t and her son Bibi wait out the storm in the shelter of the grocery store. Calixta does not notice the approaching storm (108) until the sky†¦show more content†¦She begins to nervously worry aloud about the whereabouts of Bobinà ´t and Bibi, and what their fate might be if they are caught outside in the storm, encouraging Alcà ©e to reassure her. As the storm is reaching its peak, Calixta and Alcà ©e encounter the height of their passion for one another. As she stands at the window, a bolt of lightning strikes close by, causing Calixta to jump away from the window straight into Alcà ©es comforting embrace. The two suddenly find themselves caught in the overwhelming passion they once had for one another. As they look into each others eyes, Alcà ©e finds there is nothing for him to do but to gather her lips in a kiss (109). They no longer pay heed to the thunderstorm roaring outside as their rekindled spark becomes their only concern. When the rain begins to fall quietly on the land, the lovers lie together breathlessly, fighting the urge to sleep. After the storm has passed and Alcà ©e resumes his journey home, everything returns to normal, almost as if nothing out of the ordinary has occurred. The sun comes out, turning the glistening green world into a palace of gems (110). Bobinà ´t and Bibi return home safely to find Calixta cheerfully relieved. They sit down to eat supper, talking and laughing so loud that anyone might have heard them as far away as Laballià ©res (111). Meanwhile, Alcà ©e writes a loving letter (111) to his wife, Clarisse, who is away with the children on vacation. He tells her that he misses