The setting in Kate Chopin's 'The Storm'

9th posting, 9.20 a.m. 31st August 2008

Happy Merdeka!


The setting plays a major part of ' The Storm'. In fact, it plays the most integral part that brought to the climax of the story. It is not clearly defined though where exactly the story took place but the setting obviously is on a farm land, in a small southern town. This can be noted in several lines in the story. In line (10), Part I 'great furrows in the distant field.

Again in line (8), Part II 'were plows and a harrow piled up in the corner'. In line (5), Part III 'signs of their tramp over heavy and wet fields'. Kate Chopin has lived in a plantation for many years and could have based her story on her own experiences. She is also known as a regional writer based on the other stories she has written. Furthermore, the climate plays a vital role. The storm creates an excellent setting for the short story. I find that the setting provides a background for the exposition. Kate Chopin cleverly uses the storm and in turn creates a storm in Calixta's life in the form of Alcee. The climax of the story is also during the peak of the storm. This is revealed from line (20), "The playing of lightning was incessant. A bolt struck a tall chinaberry tree at the edge of the field. It filled all visible space with a blinding glare and the crash seems to invade the very boards they stood upon.

Calixta put her hands to her eyes and with a cry, staggered backward. Alcee's arm encircled her, and for an instant he drew her close and spasmodically to him". Chopin wanted us to see and feel the setting reinforce the events. The setting seems conducive to the rising action and the plot. Finally, as the storm subsides so does the story. We are made aware of the calmness which has come over the characters and Calixta start playing her original role as a wife very well.

We can actually feel the climate as we are reading the story. We can even picture the characters in our mind just by reading 'The Storm'. This simply shows Kate Chopin's capability of captivating her readers through her flawless diction. She has the knack for it!

Kate Chopin is an omniscient narrator in 'The Storm'. She is able to tell the story from the view of each character. She delves the minds of the characters to complete the story for us. She expresses each character's feelings and gives a flow to the story. She is able to bring her readers into the characters world. That's a real difficult thing to do, to actually involve the readers like you and I in the readings of her work!!

Will catch up later ya.