"Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston is filled with symbolism ranging from images that are easily captured to things that require a little bit more insight. Religion has apparently played a major role in Hurston's life, readily seen in "Sweat" with the references to a snake and Gethsemane. Symbolism plays a big part of this story and after analyzing these, they give the story a deeper meaning and can enlighten the reader as to the full meaning of "Sweat".
The most apparent symbol in the story is the title, "Sweat". It is also mentioned in the story, "Looka heah, Sykes, you done gone too fur. Ah been married to you fur fifteen years, and Ah been takin' in washin' fur fifteen years. 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. It stands for her work ethic and how she has tried to make her work as best as she can, it is a big part of her life.
Another easily recognized symbol in this story is that of the snake. "Sykes, what you throw dat whip on me like dat? You know it would skeer me - looks just like a snake, an' you knows how skeered Ah is of snakes" (Hurston 678). The snake is the main symbol in this story, it ties it together because it is mentioned at the beginning of the story and at the end. Sykes decides to bring a snake into their home, "Look in de box dere Delia, Ah done brung yuh somethin'.Syke! Syke, mah Gawd! You take dat rattlesnake 'way fron heah! You gottuh" (Hurston 683). The snake is an object of destruction, a satanic object which is what the devil turned into to lure Eve to eat the apple in the garden of Eden as written in the Bible (Genesis 2-3). The snake represents the evil Sykes, which is in direct opposition of Delia's Christianity. The bull whip in the passage is another symbol related to the snake. Both of these objects are phallic in nature, representing Syke's emasculated position.
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!" ...
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. ...
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. ...
