A letter to the censorship committee

Thursday 22, 2012

Censorship committee

2350 Broadhollow Road
Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021
 

To Whom It May Concern:

 

“The Storm” by Kate Chopin portrays scenes that many would qualify as graphic and inappropriate. However, this short story has profound connections with abstract and hidden issues in society. Issues that concern primarily the maltreatment of women in their marital relationship and secondly, their separation in society. I think “The Storm” is a great step ahead in the movement of protecting women's rights and freedom. I suggest strongly that the censorship committee take this in consideration and publish the storm.

 

Chopin presents herself as the inner advocate of the women’s spirits in “The Storm.” She shouts it out for everyone that women are natural human beings who also have sexual desire and need tenderness. Her story is set in a residential house surrounded by tall trees while the storm was occurring. The Setting alone sets the tone and made the story romantic. Calixta the main character receives visits from Alcée a man that she had a flirtation with before her marriage. As Alcée is entering the house, the raindrops grow bigger. Throughout the story, as the tension is rising the storm is getting more aggressive. Chopin uses this imagery of the storm to demonstrate and qualify the tension of their sexual Desiree. Calixta said to Alcée : “It’s been two years since it rain like that.” It seems like Calixta haven't have such passion since years. Her body and her mind were waiting for this as a dry land is waiting for the rain. When it takes longer to rain, that's when we have a deluge. “The Storm” as a phenomenon of nature represents normal passion and sensuous desire of Calixta.

 

Also in the beginning scene, Chopin points out that Calixta was left home alone by her husband. She stayed sewing linen furiously and doing domestic work. She was so frustrated and exhausted that she had to wash her face, and didn't even notice the rain until later.

 

This is this costume that Chopin is trying to denounce in our society. Women have been treated like insensitive being. They were left aside. Women have been considered like being devoted entirely to serve man. They haven't get opportunities to socialize or to participate in intellectual activities. That is what Chopin portrays when we see that Alcee’s wife, Clarisse, is able to go away for vacation.

But still, our women who have raised this country and continue to raise our children of tomorrow, are still battling for suffrages. 

This text from Chopin is a decisive call to egalitarianism. It is the time to ban gender inequality and set equal social and economic convenience for women. Censoring this play will be like restraining the country from justice and freedom for all.  

Sincerly,

Thelusmond Ninel

 Ninel Thelusmond, NOW (National Organization for Women)
06 decibel road
Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021