The-Storm-小说分析

TheStormKateChopinI.Plot:TheleavesweresostillthatevenBibithoughtitwasgoingtorainstrongly.BibiandhisfatherdecidedtoremainatFriedheimer’sstoretillthestormhadpassed.Bibiworriedabouthismother,Calixta.HisfatherpurchasedacanofshrimpswhichBibi’smotherlikes.ThenBibilaidhislittlehandonhisfather’skneeandwasnotafraid.Hismother,athome,wasgreatlyoccupiedinsewinganddidnotnoticetheapproachingstormuntilitgrewdark.ShesawAlcéeLaballièreatthegatewhenshehastenedouttogatherclothes.“MayIcomeandwaitonyourgallerytillthestormisover,Calixta?”heasked.Calixtapermitted.Thewaterbeatinupontheboardsindrivingsheets.So,hewentinside,closingthedoorafterhimandputsomethingbeneaththedoortokeepthewaterout.ThenCalixtarolledupapieceofbaggingandAlcéehelpedher.Shewasstillbeautifullikefiveyearsbeforewhenshemarried.Theywereinthediningroom--thesittingroom--thegeneralutilityroom.AlcéeflunghimselfintoarockerandCalixtawasnervous.CalixtahopedherhusbandandhersonremainatFriedheimer’sstoreandavoidthestorm.Shestoodatthewindowwithagreatlydisturbedlookonherface.Alcéegotupandjoinedheratthewindow,lookingoverhershoulder.Therainwascomingdownandenvelopingthedistantwoodinagraymist.Alightingstruckatalltreeattheedgeofthefield.Claixtaputherhandstohereyes,andwithacry,staggeredbackward.Alcées’sarmencircledher.Claixtaworriedaboutherson.Alcéecomfortherandclaspedhershouldersandlookedintoherface.Thecontactarousedalltheold-timeinfatuationanddesireforherflesh.Helookeddownintohereyesandgatherherlipsinakiss.ItremindedhimofAssumption.Claixtaalsoremembered.Later,shelayuponthecouch.Thegenerousabundanceofherpassion,withoutguileortrickery.Hestayedcushioneduponher,breathless,dazed,enervated,withhisheartbeatinglikehammeruponher.Gradually,therainwasover.Alcéerideaway.Herhusbandandsonwastrudginghome.Theystoppedtocleanthedirtontheirclothesandthinkaboutexplanationtohiswife.Theyenteredcautiouslyatthebackdoor.Calixtawaspreparingsupper.Shesprangupastheycamein.ShehadclaspedBibiandkissedhimeffusively.Heseemedtoexpressnothingbutsatisfactionattheirsafereturn.BobintgaveCalixtatheshrimps.Shewashappyandgavehimasmackingkissonthecheek.Theyrelaxedhappily.Atthatnight,Alcéewrotetohiswife,Clarissea,alovingletter,fulloftendersolicitude.Sothestormpassedandeveryonewashappy.II.Pointofview:ThirdpersonpointofviewIII.Character:1.Bibi:Heisalittlechild.Whenitwasgoingtorain,heworriedabouthismother.Wecanseeheisachildishandlovelyboy.2.Bibi’sfather:Heloveshismotherandhisson.Inthenovel,hepurchasedacanofshrimpsthathiswifelikes.Andbeforehewentbakehome,hestoppedtocleanthedirtonclothesandthoughtaboutexplanationtohiswife.So,wecanseethatheisahen-peckedhusband.Andheisconsiderable.3.Bibi’smother,Calixta:Sheisawomanwithalittletraditionalchastityideas.Fromthenovel,alightingstruckatalltreeandatthatmomentAlcée’sarmencircledCalixta.Butsheescaped.Andsheisawomanwhopursuitsthefreesexualrightandthinkslittleaboutherhusband.Andalso,sheisawomanwhowillabandontraditionalchastityideaseasily.Becausefinally,shebetrayedherhusband.Andmoreover,shewasnotpassive.4.AlcéeLaballière:Heishypocritical.Inthisnovel,hehavebetrayedhiswife.However,hewrotehiswifealoveletterandshowedhismisstohiswife.Heisalsoamanwithouttraditionalmoralrules.Calixtahasmarriedtoothersandhealsohashisownwife.But,heseducesCalixta.IV.Setting:Themajorsettingofthestormwasintheendofthe19centuryandthebeginningof20century.ManynewthingsbegantohappeninAmerica.Thestormisasymbolofthebigchangeofthesocietyandalsothebaptismofmanytraditions.Thestormmeansthecomingofwomen'sawakingandwomen'smovement.V.Style:KateChopinusesmuchironyinthisshortnovel,suchasverbalironyandstructuralirony,inordertoconcealthefactandachievespecialartisticeffect.So,itiscomplex,confusinganddifficulttograspthewriter’sideas.Aboutstructuralirony,itappearsintheshortnovelmanytimes.Suchas,Bibi’sfatherbuyshrimpsforhiswifeandhiswifebetrayshimathome,AlcéegoesinsidewithoutfearfulandBobinotgoeshomefearfully.AndthemostdramaticthingisthatwereadershaveknewAlcéebetrayshiswife.However,hewritesalovelettertohiswifethatnight.So,allthesesatirizeAlcée’shypocrisyandhiswife’snaiveandfoolish.Then,thelastparagraphofthisnovelisusedverbalirony.Afterthestormpassed,everyonewashappy.Onthecontrary,itisn’thappinessbutinvisibledamageandcheat.Forme,Ithinkthisnovelusesironytotellreadersthatgettingridoftraditionalmoralrulesandpursuingthefreesexualrightwillbringmuchdamagetopeople.Actually,thewriterisopposedtothiskindofwomen’smovement.VI.Theme:GetridoftraditionalmoralrulesandpursuitthefreesexualrightVII.Symbol:Thechangeofinterpersonalrelationshipcausestheethicalorderofthefamilyout-of-balance,reflectsAmericansocietyinthe19thcentury.