Calixta's Affair In 'The Storm'
Calixta's Affair In any marriage, it is important for the wife to feel secured, loved, and to receive sexual gratification to maintain a strong commitment to her husband. Unfortunately, in Kate Chopin's "The Storm," Calixta does not receive all of these things from her husband Bobinot. Calixta's husband Bobinot lacks a sense of power and control in their marriage and also leaves her feeling sexually frustrated. Calixta's encounter with Alcee Laballiere also reminds her of her dull marriage and the passion her and Alcee has once shared. Because of the unfulfillment of her marriage to Bobinot, Calixta is driven to commit adultery with Alcee. Calixta's husband Bobinot, as caring as he may be, does not have a strong sense of power or control, important for men in the 19th century. It is difficult for Calixta to feel secured by a man "who was accustomed to converse on terms of perfect equality with his little son" (119). There is no question that Bobinot may love and care for Calixta, he thinks about her during the storm and purchases "a can of shrimps, of which Calixta is very fond" (120). However, Bobinot cares more about Calixta being disappointed or angry with him in a childish way, asking Bibi, his four year old son, "what will yo mama
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He is a much more distinguished man than Bobinot and has a past with Calixta which is much less than plutonic. Calixta still remembers their past and when "Alcee Laballiere rode in at the gate his voice and her own startled her as if from a trance" (120). When Calixta allows Alcee to come inside and they are close they are reminded of their past encounter. "He looked down into her eyes and there was nothing for him to do but gather her lips up in a kiss. It reminded him of Assumption" (121). After Alcee reminds Calixta of what had happened in Assumption "her lips seemed in a manner free to be tasted"
He is a much more distinguished man than Bobinot and has a past with Calixta which is much less than plutonic. Calixta still remembers their past and when "Alcee Laballiere rode in at the gate his voice and her own startled her as if from a trance" (120). When Calixta allows Alcee to come inside and they are close they are reminded of their past encounter. "He looked down into her eyes and there was nothing for him to do but gather her lips up in a kiss. It reminded him of Assumption" (121). After Alcee reminds Calixta of what had happened in Assumption "her lips seemed in a manner free to be tasted"