In Kate Chopin's time, women, their sexuality and their sexual passion were considered a negligible, even inappropriate, aspect of women's lives. Yet Chopin boldly addresses a woman's sexual desire in his short story "The Tempest." This story details a steamy extramarital sexual encounter between Calixta and Alcee in the middle of a raging storm. While “The Tempest” could have been presented in a traditional light, perhaps as a lesson on the evils of uninhibited female sexuality, Chopin maintains a non-judgmental stance by refraining from moralizing about the sanctity of marriage or on the impropriety of Calixta's actions. By not condemning, or even tolerating Calixta's behavior, and by recognizing the existence and depth of sexual desire in women, Chopin infuses “The Tempest” with a strong feminist quality. Chopin calls into question the very institution of marriage with this story. The mere presence of Calixta's sexual desire and its prominent intensity makes this story innovative in its "feminist statement about women and their sexuality." Chopin uses the symbolism of a storm to describe the passion between Calixta and Alcee. First, Calixta is not fully aware of the approaching storm, and her desires may not be as obvious to her; Yet as the storm continues, Calixta becomes more and more excited. I believe Chopin deliberately placed these events side by side when he wrote: “I was very hot… she unhooked her white bag at her throat. It began to get dark and, suddenly realizing the situation, she got up and rushed to close the windows and doors” (Chopin, 1898, p. 1). The ever-growing storm serves as a metaphor for Calixta's growing passion, suggesting that the tension in the air and the sexual tension... middle of paper ... and she also has no sanctioned excuse by the company. This expression of sexual passion does not become a moralizing story about the value or inherent character of female virtue. Thus, Chopin presents a new and daring idea; namely, that women experience desire and should be allowed to act on that desire with selfish intent, just as men have been allowed to do throughout history. In conclusion, I believe this story relates to today in how some people view female sexuality. Even though a woman's uninhibited sexuality is more acceptable today, it still remains frowned upon to a certain extent. When a woman sleeps with several men, she is sometimes considered a slut or a whore. But if a man does exactly the same thing, he is only sewing up his wild oats. Is this fair? I don't think so, but it shows society's view of what is acceptable and what constitutes a