Adultery in Kate Chopin’s ‘The Storm’ Essay

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Introduction

Can the legalization of extramarital affairs change the world for the better? This is the brainteaser behind Kate Chopin’s book The Storm. The prevailing society rules do not always take into account all the likes and dislikes of people neither do they care about the repercussions of this ignorance. These rules allow some practices while forbidding others. In her works, The Storm, Kate Chopin raises the issue of adultery. Adultery is an extramarital affair that significantly interposes matrimonial relations. Following the respect attached to marriage, my society prohibits anything that can be put asunder married couples, adultery inclusive.

On the contrary, Chopin brings another view of adultery in marriage. She employs characters like Calixta (a wife) and Alcee (a previous admirer) as her main characters. The two ends up having a sexual affair regardless of their respective partners, an action that results in no conflict but a happier marriage. According to Chopin, a passionless marriage coupled with adultery is consequence-free and is as powerful as ‘the storm’ and that it can help maintain the union, nature, and happiness of the married couple, a view that I differ with, based on my aforementioned societal rules attached to marriage.

Adultery According to Chopin

Adultery appears to be a natural act. When Alcee encounters a storm on his way, he opts to shelter himself in Calixta’s house. The two seem to have spent a good number of days before the meeting. Alcee says, “My! What a rain! It’s good two years since it rained like that” (Chopin 91). Alcee’s words are symbolic in the sense that he is referring to the length of time he has taken without indulging in sexual affairs. Calixta, who has kids and a husband, does not seem bothered by the entry of her former lover because what happened between them, breaking their relationship, is natural. To prove further this normality of adultery, Calixta’s husband and children shelter themselves in a local store while the storm – the affair – ends. In fact, Calixta creates a favorable environment for the affair to take place. “…and suddenly realizing the situation she got up hurriedly and went about closing windows and doors… and the room with its white, monumental bed, its closed shutters, looked dim and mysterious” (Chopin 90). She is no more than creating the natural sexual atmosphere. Adultery in the perspective of Chopin is consequence-free as expounded next.

What society expects of Calixta’s husband, following his wife’s affair is not the case. She suffers no consequences as a result. In fact, even the two do not regret it. They appear delightful despite the wrong act. “And the first free breath since her marriage seemed to restore the pleasant liberty of her maiden days….So the storm passed, and every one was happy” (Chopin 94). These words imply the results of the adultery act, happiness rather than worries. When the husband and kids returns, Calixta stands out as a satisfied following their safe return after the storm. “… They laughed so much and so loud that anyone might have heard them as far away as Laballiere’s” (Chopin 94). This scenario between Calixta and her husband shows how the husband is reaction-free since they are happily chatting and laughing portraying how the act is free of repercussions. Adultery is a source of happiness as Chopin pictures it out.

Happiness stands out as an outcome of adultery. “They did not heed the crashing torrents and the roar of the elements made her laugh as she lay in his arms” (Chopin 97). This feeling is evident after Calixta and Alcee finishes the act. Calixta can afford laughter, a sign of how happy and energetic she has become after the act. Bibi, Calixta’s child places “his little hand on his father’s knee and is not afraid…His parents are happily married, their house…” (Chopin 100). It is clear that adultery has been a prevailing process and since then society is used to it, the couples are happily married like Calixta and her husband. In addition, the words “So the storm passed, and everyone was happy” (Chopin 93), picture this happy feeling associated with adultery.

Moreover, when Alcee writes to his wife extending her stay in Bilioxi, the wife is happy with the message because she is actually enjoying affairs with other people, a case that Alcee knows very well and in turn described as being happy about it. It is also worth noting that adultery, according to Chopin maintains the union of married couples. For instance, when Calixta is through with Alcee, what happens after the entry of Bobinot and the kids is no more than a couple which appears strongly united. Calixta delivers supper on the table, shares it joyfully, after which they “…continue the night as they always do” (Chopin 103). On the other hand, Alcee wishes her wife, who is away with the children, a happy ‘vacation’ implying the kind of union they have.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of adultery as brought out by Chopin is wanting and cannot change the world for the better as she puts it. Adultery is a vice, even forbidden by religious teachings. A society dominated by adultery where couples care less about their sexual behaviors cannot stand. It will automatically be dissolved. This follows from the evident negative results that are associated with adultery. For instance, an adulterous person is subject to sexually transmitted diseases that none wishes to get and this was the case between my uncle and his adulterous wife. As she contracted the virus that causes AIDS, they could not stay together anymore. They divorced. Secondly, an adulterous person will end up neglecting and denying the other’s sexual rights since he/she is being satisfied by others outside their marriage. My own parents are happily married because they are faithful to one another and do not entertain extramarital sexual partners. If the reverse were the case, they would not be together. Based on these experiences, adultery will separate, rather than strengthen, a passionless marriage. Therefore, Chopin’s view of adultery as a natural act that produces a consequence-free, happy, and united family is subject to my rejection based on the aforementioned issues concerning marriage and adultery.

Works Cited

Chopin, Kate. The Storm. New York: Dover, 1996.

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