Beginning of Essay
Kate Chopin’s short story “” describes an encounter of infidelity between two lovers during a brief thunderstorm. The story alludes to the controversial topic of women’s sexuality and passion, which during Chopin’s time no one spoke ....

Middle of Essay
.... the story, the intensity of is symbolic of the intensity of Calixta’s passion. At the onset of the story, Chopin subtly exposes the idea that women of the time are expected to repress their feelings of sexuality and passion. The scene is set as Calixta is attending to household chores unaware that a storm is imminent. Chopin writes, “She sat at a side window sewing furiously on a sewing machine. She was greatly occupied and did not notice the approaching storm. She unfastened her white sacque at the throat. It began to grow dark, and suddenly realizing the situation she got up hurriedly and went about closing windows and doors.” ....