In short fiction physical setting can often represent not just place, but also a characters emotions, Kate Chopin uses this symbolism in her short stories The Story of an Hour and The Storm.
In The Story of an Hour Chopin uses the physical setting to symbolically foreshadow Mrs. Mallards happiness at the new of her husbands death. When walking into her room after getting the news, Mrs. Mallard sees a comfortable, roomy armchair. (Chopin) This description symbolizes that she is relaxed and comfortable with her husbands death and she has room to breathe. Sitting in her arm chair Mrs. Mallard, could see the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. (Chopin) Chopin uses this to symbolically show Mrs. Mallards new life blossoming. While Mrs. Mallard is looking out the open window (Chopin) there were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds (Chopin) But Mrs. Mallards gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky (Chopin) This symbolizes that Mrs. Mallard was focusing on the bright future, rather than on the cloudy news, of her husbands death, while looking out the entrance to her new life. The story suggests that Mrs. Mallard represents 19th century wives, being married was a restrictive institution, and womens independence was rare. .
In The Storm Chopin uses the physical setting to show the harmony between the physical storm and the storm of passion between Calixta and Alcee. The water beat upon the boards in driving sheets (Chopin) this symbolizes that the storm drove Alcee to go inside the house, and ultimately drove them to be together. The rain beat upon the low, shingled roof with a force and clatter that threatened to break an entrance and deluge them there (Chopin) Chopin us the power of the storm to symbolize how overwhelming the storm of passion was flooding their senses. The storm of passion was threatening to break down the moral resistance to their marriage vows.
