In Kate Chopin's stories "the Storm" and "At the 'Cadian Ball" she proves that certain things are really timeless. I have personally "settled" for a boyfriend because the one I really wanted wasn't available, just as Calixta settles for poor devoted Bobinot who would go to the ends of the earth for her. People would rather be with someone than no one, even if the someone isn't the one they really want. Calixta knew that Bobinot would be good to her so after realizing Alcee cared more for Clarisse than her she settled. In "the Storm" she seems happy to be with her family and cares for her husband and son immensely, however she has an affair with Alcee and we are led to believe her husband is never the wiser. Alcee and Clarisse were also married, but in this case it was Clarisse who settled, though she was obviously motivated by his desire to leave for a while, for something better possibly. I'm not sure what it meant when Clarisse was less than happy with their conjugal relationship. Does she not like sex? They have kids so it's not like it hasn't happened. Perhaps she isn't happy with it because she isn't truly in love with him?
I've always been very against infidelity in relationships so the ending of "the Storm" was a bit disturbing to me. I'd like to think that everyone was happy, but how can Alcee or Calixta be happy knowing what they have done? And even worse, what would happen if their spouses found out? It'd be a whole 'nother "Assumption" topic for the town gossip I suppose.
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