"The Storm"

When I first read “The Storm” I came away with a feeling of sadness. After having our class discussion, I now have some new insights. Despite these new insights, I still find the short story to be a sad one.
On the surface this story just seemed like a tale of suppressed passions coming to fruition. It’s hard not to despise Calixta and Alcee for what they do. They are both married and whether or not they harbored these feelings from long ago, they still have no excuse for committing adultery.
After having the class discussion, I really see how well Chopin was able to use the storm as a symbol of the sin that is committed. In the beginning I love how the clouds “were rolling with sinister intention” (Chopin 255). What great use of foreshadowing for what’s about to happen.
Later we see how the rain came “down in sheets obscuring the view of far-off cabins” (Chopin 257) really illustrating how there was a feeling of isolation in that cabin. They felt that they could get away with what they were about to do. Then, as the atrocious act is about to happen, “they did not heed the crashing torrents” (Chopin 257) showing their lack of moral fiber to resist their own lusts.
With all of this in mind, I really still feel sad. These are two people who knew full well what they were doing; yet they still do it. Even worse, after all is said and done “everyone was happy” (Chopin 259). How could Calixta and Alcee just go on and pretend as if nothing had happened when they had committed the ultimate betrayal against their spouses? Sad.