Response to my small group blog

I feel like after reading "The Storm" I searched and searched for words to describe the overall message I was left with. Unfortunately I rarely sum up morals of the stories as eloquently as Whitney when she wrote that perhaps Chopin was trying to imply that, " Hey, two people “sinned” and the world didn’t collapse.”

I also agree with Whitney when she wondered if perhaps "Maybe this story spawned from the unequal responsibilities of men and women in marriage during the time this was written in 1898?" I feel as though Calixta was burdened with the obligation to constantly give and provide for her family, which I imagine was a common feeling for women then and now. When Alcee rode up during the storm she finally had something that was just for her. All in all, I think for being such a short little story it sure did say a lot.

I really think that Dennis nailed the main similarity between "Chickamauga" and "Private History" with this statement, "that the characters find out the harsh reality of war in about the same way." Aside from the characters finding out that war is not just a game that you can play with a wooden sword, these two stories really told how war affects people on an individual basis. Like we talked about in class, soon after the Civil War people began filing it away as a noble war that it was a tragedy but at the same time held a sense of glory. Both these stories kind of called the reader out on any false illusions they may have had. It is always easier to romanticize things, and both of these stories do a good job at reminding you of the plain gruesome truth.