The Importance of Time in the Storm The Tempest, by Kate Chapin, is a story about two people who have an affair during a storm. That's basically how it is. The story involves two families, that of Bobinot, Calixta and Bibi, and that of Alcee, Clarisse and their children. Calixta is at her home separated from her family due to the storm. Alcee is separated from his family because they are visiting another city. The storm brings Calixta and Alcee together and they have an affair. It is set in a small town in the late 1800s. A storm can mean many things, both good and bad, and is important to the story both symbolically and directly. The storm acts as a catalyst in the story as it causes events to unfold the way they do. The first real direct effect the storm has on the story is that it is what drives Bobinot and Bibi to stay at the local store for shelter. This obviously leaves Calixta home alone. Alcee, we are led to believe, was out on horseback somewhere near Calixta's house when the storm began. This leads him to take refuge there. Before Calixta married five years earlier, the two had romantic feelings towards each other. From then on they rarely saw each other, and this was the first time since then that they had been alone together. Because of the awkward feelings he was experiencing, Alcee expressed his intention to stay out (666). This is where the storm, because it's a pretty big storm, forces him in. Once inside, it seems like the only thing that will take place is harmless conversation. But alas, once again the storm comes into play. While Calixta, worried for her family, looks out the window the storm causes a huge bolt of lightning to fall on a nearby tree. This makes her jump and Alcee instinctively grabs her into his arms. The storm now comes into play one last time. As Calixta nervously paces around the house (due to the storm), Alcee grabs her shoulders in an attempt to calm her down. At this point their old feelings become too overwhelming and result in an affair. When the storm ends, it symbolizes the end of the relationship. We are never told what Chapin meant by the title The Storm.