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Bobinôt
Calixta and Bobinôt’s four-year-old son, Bibi, has a somber personality. Bobinôt talks with Bibi as if the young boy were an adult, indicating that Bibi is extremely mature for his age. Chopin likewise describes Bibi as “wise,” and calm in the face of the thunderstorm, which would likely be terrifying for most four-year-old children. Bibi also demonstrates thoughtful insight into his surroundings. Specifically, Bibi appears to know more about Calixta’s life than his father, Bobinôt, as indicated by his knowledge of Calixta’s schedule (Bibi tells Bobinôt that the maid, Sylvie, came to help Calixta the day before). Like his father, Bibi anticipates that Calixta’s anger over his dirty clothes on the way home, indicating that Bibi is aware of Calixta’s efforts keeping the house clean.
Bibi Quotes in The Storm
The The Storm quotes below are all either spoken by Bibi or refer to Bibi. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Part 1 Quotes
“Mama’ll be ’fraid, yes,” he suggested with blinking eyes.
“She’ll shut the house. Maybe she got Sylvie helpin’ her this evenin’,” Bobinôt responded reassuringly.
“No; she ent got Sylvie. Sylvie was helpin’ her yistiday,” piped Bibi.
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Part 2 Quotes
Calixta, at home, felt no uneasiness for their safety. She sat at a side window sewing furiously on a sewing machine. She was greatly occupied and did not notice the approaching storm. But she felt very warm and often stopped to mop her face, on which the perspiration gathered in beads. She unfastened her white sacque at the throat.
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Part 3 Quotes
“Oh, Bobinôt! You back! My! but I was uneasy. W’ere you been during the rain? An’ Bibi? he ain’t wet? he ain’t hurt?” She had clasped Bibi and was kissing him effusively.
Bobinôt’s explanations and apologies which he had been composing all along the way, died on his lips as Calixta felt him to see if he were dry, and seemed to express nothing but satisfaction at their safe return.
“I brought you some shrimps, Calixta,” offered Bobinôt, hauling the can from his ample side pocket and laying it on the table.
“Shrimps! Oh, Bobinôt! you too good fo’ anything!” and she gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek that resounded. “J ’vous reponds, we’ll have a feas’ to-night! umph-umph!”
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Bibi Character Timeline in The Storm
The timeline below shows where the character Bibi appears in The Storm. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1
At a general store called Friedheimer’s, Bobinôt and his young son, Bibi, decide to wait out an incoming thunderstorm. When Bobinôt, who is “accustomed to converse on...
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...they’re her favorite. As the storm begins to descend on the general store, Bobinôt and Bibi sit and watch on as the wind picks up outside. Despite the violent storm, “wise”...
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Part 2
...doesn’t realize that a storm is brewing, and that her husband and son, Bobinôt and Bibi, could be in danger out in the elements. Only when the room turns dark does...
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Part 3
Making their way home from the general store, Bobinôt and Bibi try to clean themselves up. As they tromp through soggy fields, Bobinôt frets that Bibi...
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However, to Bobinôt and Bibi’s surprise, Calixta responds with joy at their arrival. Bobinôt finds himself at a loss for...
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