In Zora Neale Hurston's short story, Sweat, Delia finds herself stuck in an unbearable marriage. Her husband, Sykes, mistreats her, leaves all work to her, and is unfaithful. After being married to Sykes for 15 years, Delia has lost all hope in the marriage. The countless beatings and painful acts of Sykes have brought her over the edge. She is forced to go against her strict religious beliefs because of the life in which she has been leading since her matrimony to her husband. One passage that sums up many factions of Delia and Sykes's relationship is as follows:.
"She lay awake, gazing upon the debris that cluttered their matrimonial trail. Not an image left standing along the way. Anything like flowers had long ago been drowned in the salty stream that had been pressed from her heart. Her tears, her sweat, her blood. She had brought love to the union and he had brought a longing after the flesh. Two months after the wedding, he had given her the first brutal beating. She had the memory of his numerous trips to Orlando with all of his wages when he had returned to her penniless, even before the first year had passed. She was young and soft then, but now she thought of her knotty, muscles limbs, her harsh knuckly hands, and drew herself up into an unhappy little ball in the middle of the big feather bed. Too late now to hope for love, even if it were not Bertha it would be someone else. This case differed from the others only in that she was bolder than the others. Too late for everything except her little home. She had built it for her old days, and planted one by one the trees and flowers there. It was lovely to her, lovely." (Hurston 680). .
This scene occurs when Delia is lying on her bed, thinking of what had just previously happened. Sykes had gotten home, and as usual, a fight erupted between the two former lovers. The difference about this confrontation though, was that Sykes did not strike Delia, as what usually happens.
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. ...
"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. ...
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...
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. ...
