Kate Chopin and the Use of Setting in "The Storm"
Kate Chopin considers the use of setting to influence how the characters behave and helps disclose their personalities and traits in the story The Storm.
The Importance of the Place Setting
The place setting is how the author describes the actual setting of the tale. All of the characters in the tale reside in Louisiana, a small town in the United States. Although several locations are named, such as Friedheimer's shop, Clarisse's vacation home, and Alcee's home, Calixta and Bobinôt's home is the most important location in the narrative. When Bobinôt departs the house, Calixta, his wife, invites a new man into the home with whom she defiles their marital bed. The author describes the house as, "The door stood open, and the room with its white, monumental bed, its closed shutters, looked dim and mysterious" (Chopin 106). The bedroom is described vividly since it is where Alcée and Calixta fulfill their sexual wishes. This reflects the level of unsatisfaction both characters have in their marriages.
The Significance of the Time Setting
The time setting is also utilized in the story to reveal the existing social difference among the characters. Set in the 19th century, it is clear that Calixta is a "Cadain" which is evident from the way she speaks. She is unable to speak fluently like Alcée and frequently uses French phrases such as Bonté, dieu sait, and M’sieur which are French terms. Alcée, on the other hand, seems to be a Creole; he comes from a high-class society, and his dialect is better and more fluent. The two French societies are different in regards to status; while the Creoles seem to be sophisticated, the Cadians appear to hold lower status.
The Central Role of Setting
The setting is central to the story. By using place and time settings, readers are able to understand the existing social differences between the characters. The place setting helps in nurturing the key theme of the story which is infidelity. Alcée and Calixta are able to refresh their love experience in the house. With the bedroom being accessible to them, they manage to share intimate moments. If the setting could be changed, the story’s theme could also change. If there was no storm, the author would come up with a different place or weather setting to ensure that Babinot is out of the house. Alternatively, Alcée and Calixta would have to be blessed in a different setting away from home to be able to commit adultery.
