Throughout the short story “The Tempest” by Kate Chopin, readers see how the storm acts as a catalyst for the love story between the main characters. This makes all the events in the story happen through perfect timing and placement. She uses imagery throughout the storm to express the underlying feelings and emotions behind each character's thoughts; This is what makes the story so intriguing. I will focus on the two main characters Calixta and Alcee in this story since they are the ones most affected by the storm. For a quick overview of the background information: Alcee and Calixta are long-lost lovers who meet by chance on a random stormy day, thanks to several moments of luck. The problem is that they are both now happily married, with children, separated people, and they still seem to have some sexual tension between them. The imagery used to depict this epic, forbidden romantic escapade is profound, perfect for the mood of the short story. Calixta is married to Bobinot and they have a son named Bibi, and they all live in a house outside the city, in the countryside. Chopin portrays this family as good old Southerners, genuine and happy, but this is not the case. The storm is used as a sign of how Calixta and Bobinot's relationship is in trouble and how neither seems to be satisfied. Calixta knew a storm was coming, but was she worried about her son and husband? No, of course not, because she had someone else in mind. She tried to express her feelings of worry to Alcee when the author wrote, "'If only I knew where Bibi was!' She didn't want to pull herself together; she would not be seated (559). Even here, Calixta tries to describe how worried she is... middle of paper ... knows how to react because Bobinot is not the man she is in love with. Kate Chopin did a wonderful job describing the images throughout. the storm and the different characters and their emotions. Ultimately, Calixta is looking for an adventurous man, but her husband is vapid and boring; therefore their relationship will never flourish. Chopin did it in a way that made you think and examine the underlying factors and clues of the story; that's what makes it so great. This story wouldn't be much without the imagery as it would just be a regular affair, but the use of the storm in relation to the emotions created made it a perfect short story. Works Cited Baym, Nina, Arnold Krupat, Robert S. Levine and Jeanne Campbell Reesman. “The storm.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 8th ed. Flight. C. New York, New York: Norton, 2012. 557-61. Print.