"The Storm" is a short story that takes place during the 19th century. Chopin's protagonist Calixta is portrayed as the typical housewife, as she is sewing and tending to Bobinôt and Bibi's clothes. Throughout the story, there are many symbolic references. While many claims that the antagonist of the story is the storm itself, it is widely accepted that the storm symbolizes the passion and affair between Calixta and Alcée. As soon as Calixta goes outside to get Bibi and Bobinôt's clothes off the line and the storm approaches, so does Alcée seeking shelter from the storm."[6] The end of the storm specifically leaves the status of the affair between Calixta and Alcée open-ended as Alcée takes an extended stay of absence from his wife to be in closer proximity to Calixta after the events of the night. At the end of the storm, the narrator says: "the storm passed and everyone was happy." They both experience an intense passion that their relationships were missing.
Flowers are also a form of symbolism in the story. Chopin uses calyx to create Calixta's name as a metaphor to explain the protective barrier Calixta has for herself in Assumption. Later, when Alcee came, Calixta opened herself up to Alcee like a flower. The flower in the story also represents the relationship between nature and human desire. Alcee enters Calixta's home during the rainstorm, which symbolizes Alcee as the "rain" that Calixta, the flower, requires for growth. Chopin uses similes to describe Alcee's views of Calixta's skin as "a creamy lily that the sun invites" to show that she has matured over time and is opening up to Alcee as a flower would.[8]
White is also used throughout the story to describe Calixta's skin and her bed, symbolizing both innocence and purity. Although Calixta is described as innocent throughout the story, she and Alcée still have a sexual encounter. Calixta's body "know[s] for the first time its birthright," meaning that even though she is married and has a child, she is obviously not innocent but she is now aware of the pleasure that her body can achieve with a different man.[9] Also, the bed, which is shown to be white, symbolizes Calixta's innocence as the place where she expresses her passion.[1] By stating how "the storm passed and everyone was happy"[1] at the end of the story, it signifies how the affair is not viewed as negative. This is somewhat at odds with how adulterers are viewed in general. Being that she is described this way, it can be inferred that Chopin does not necessarily shine a negative light on adulterers. The affair is made to seem natural, which can also symbolize how the structure and confines of marriage can be unnatural.
