An Analysis of Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat".
Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat" is a short story overflowing with moral and religious parallels. This story is about Delia an African American working woman in the Deep South and how she clings to her faith in God to see her through the hardships caused by her unfaithful and abusive husband. Throughout this story there is religious symbolism that characterizes Delia and Sykes as two people on opposite ends of the moral spectrum; however, they are bound by marital vows that have lost their meaning.
Delia is a hard working woman who uses her faith in God to guide and protect her from her husband's relentless physical and emotional abuse. From the very beginning, she represents diligence, humbleness, and virtuosity. Delia is depicted as being physically weak but, as having extreme spiritual strength. Delia finds herself stuck in an unbearable marriage. Her husband, Sykes, mistreats her and is unfaithful. After being married to Sykes for fifteen years, Delia has lost all hope in the marriage. The countless beatings, infidelity, and emotional abuse have brought her over the edge. .
Sykes, Delia's husband, is her exact opposite. Sykes seems to oppose Delia on his every word and action. He is physically and emotionally abusive toward his wife and adulterous. Sykes is physically strong; however, he does not have virtue or faith in God. Delia has spiritual strength which overcomes her husband's abusive attitude in the end.
In the beginning of the story, Sykes throws his bull whip at Delia. The whip can easily be initially mistaken for a snake, which foreshadows the arrival of the snake later in the story. Sykes deliberately brings a snake into the house although he knows Delia has a phobia of snakes. If Delia represents good, then Sykes represents evil, and could be seen as the devil. Delia refers to both Sykes and the snake as devilish figures.
Sykes" own abusive actions throughout the story are his downfall in the end.
Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston Women Overcoming Domestic Violence Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat" is a short story about the struggles and hardships in the life of an African American woman living in the south. ... In "Sweat" Delia was the supporter of the family she worked every day supporting herself and Sykes. ... Sweat, sweat, sweat! Work sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat!" ...
The most apparent symbol in the story is the title, "Sweat". ... Sweat, sweat, sweat Work and sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat" (Hurston 679). The "Sweat" is the product of Delia's hard work supporting them. ... Another reference to religion can be found in "Sweat." ... Her Christianity and goodness keeps her alive, keeps her sweating and working for what she believes in. ...
In Zora Neale Hurston's short story, Sweat, Delia finds herself stuck in an unbearable marriage. ... Her tears, her sweat, her blood. ... This new approach from Delia, involving a new intimidation, shows how her unnecessary sweat and hard work had gotten to be too much. ... Her tears, her sweat, her blood." ... In many instances throughout Sweat, Sykes represents the Devil breaking into and trying to destroy Delia's Eden. ...
"Sweat" written by Zora Neale Hurston is filled with symbolism, which give the readers a deeper understanding of "Sweat". ... The most obvious symbol of the story is Delia's sweat. ... Sweat, sweat, sweat! Work and sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat!" (Kennedy, Gioia p.390) The sweat described is the result of Delia's hard work, her sweat. ...
In English 1102, specifically in Professor's Sweat's classroom, one of the most valuable real world lessons that students gained was dialogue. ... Listening to others voice their experiences and opinions takes lots of skills, which was witnessed in Professor Sweat's class. ... Sweat built a safe classroom environment for students to explore new ideas and work through differences and conflicts. ...
The author of The Indian Sweat, Andrew T. ... The Sioux use the sweat for religious and curing rituals. ... It is said that the sweat can also cure physical illness. ... People all over are discovering the uses of sweats. ... This shows how much sweating is catching on. ...
The title of "Sweat" in this story, it seems very straightforward meaning in Delia's lives, the word of sweat has been implied in connotation and denotation way. ... She literally sweats to do this king a job, Delia must had hard working job. ... Delia's marriage was "Sweat", meaning not pleasant, she had a problem with her husband Sykes. ... As a faithful Christian woman, she feels "Sweat" to stand on what she has and believes. ... She has been sweating with her life, as the reader knows, in the end, Sykes died, killed by his rattlesnake, and Delia Jone...
Tiffany Barrs English 102/076 April 22, 2002 Blood, "Sweat,"" and Tears: A Historical/Biographical Analysis of Hurston's "Sweat- The purpose of any literary work is to convey an idea or concept to its audience. ... Zora Neale Hurston clearly depicts the societal dilemma concerning racial and gender conflict in the South in her short story, "Sweat."" ... "Sweat- begins in the home of Delia Jones, an African American who works as a washwoman for white families. ... It is for this reason that white people are mentioned in "Sweat,"" where work is concerned, but are never s...
Literary Review of "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston "Sweat" is an interesting short story written by a black author, Zora Neale Hurston, who presents the reader with a tale about life as an abused wife. ... The laundry that Delia sweats over to make white, is a symbol of how she works so hard to support herself and keep herself pure in the eyes of God. ...
