Journal #17 Chopin

Liana Laskin

English 48B

"The Storm" and "The Awakening" (Chapters 1-23) by Kate Chopin

March 4, 2009

"Chopin undermines patriarchy by endowing the Other, the woman, with an individual identity and a sense of self, a sense of self to which the letters she leaves behind give voice. The 'official' version of her life, that constructed by the men around her, is challenged and overthrown by the woman of the story" (Jane Le Marquand, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Chopin)

Summary:

“The Storm” starts out with Bobinôt and his son Bibi get stuck at Friedheimer's store because of a storm. After deciding to stay way they are, Bobinôt buys a can of shrimp for his wife Calixta. At home, Calixta is so caught up with sewing that she does not realize a storm is coming, but later notices and closes the windows and brings in Bobinôt's laundry in from outside. Alcée, a former lover, rides up on his horse and helps her with the clothes; he reluctantly agrees on staying because the storm gets worse. Calixta continues to sew as Alcée sits in the rocker. Calixta worries about her family as the storm gets even worse. They begin to think back to their past relationship and when the passion builds high enough, they have sex. After the storm, Alcée leave. Calixta is thrilled to see her husband and sun, and is pleased with Bobinôt’s gift of canned shrimp. Alcée writes to his wife Clarisse, telling her to stay in Biloxi as long as she wants. Clarisse feels free after reading the letter and decides to stay a while longer. “The Awakening” starts in Grand Isle, a summer resort near New Orleans. Edna Pontellier is there with her husband, Léonce, and their two sons in cottages belonging to Madame Lebrun. Although Léonce is a kind person, he is more concerned with work. Edna becomes close to Adèle Ratignolle, a married Creole; Edna also begins to feel freer with her feelings and desires which have now been “awakened.” She meets Robert Lebrun, Madame Lebrun’s elder son. Robert becomes Edna’s “attendant” for the summer and they become close. As time goes on, Edna begins to paint again, something she did when she was young and learns to swim. Edna and Robert are never open about their feelings. She becomes depressed when she feels trapped by her husband, but is happy when free. Robert begins to realize what is happening and leaves for Mexico. Edna and Léonce go back home to New Orleans. After such a transformation, Edna continues painting, disregarding all social responsibilities. This leads Léonce to go to the family physician, Doctor Mandelet. He suspects she is having an affair, but does not tell Léonce. Instead, Mandelet tells Léonce to leave her be.

Response:

“The Storm” seemed just a little bit random and did not have that much of a plot. Basically, all that happened was that Calixta’s family got stuck at a store because of the storm, her ex lover visits her at home, they have sex, and then both go on with their lives as if the whole incident never occurred. It was a bit too convenient, in my opinion, that Alcée happened to show up (on a horse when her family was not around, no less) when a storm was right on the horizon. I also thought that the story having a happy ending and life going on as it had before just seemed really ridiculous. Unlike “The Awakening,” “The Storm” was not at all realistic and that kind of detracted from the story. I liked the fact that in “The Awakening” Edna does change so drastically because it does make her a more interesting character. Also, the change does not feel weird because I think it becomes quite obvious that under the veneer of being the perfect wife and mother, she is much freer and more human. I thought it was a little bit predictable for Edna to be interested in Robert Lebrun, considering it is a known fact that each summer he chooses a lady to “attend” to. I felt as though the relationship was a bit too much of a plot device and was possibly put into the story so that Edna’s close friendship with Adéle did not come off looking homosexual. I liked how Chopin really did not elaborate too much on Léonce Pontellier because it added a sense of not being a part of the Grand Isle scene.