essay on sweat by zora neale hurston

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“Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston

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In her art works, Hurston had tried to discuss issues that required reconsideration or increased pondering; the tribulations addressed were faced far back during the 19 th century. Her works are enough to demonstrate the plight of women in their society at that time. The freedom of women was diminished. Most importantly, she uses the “Sweat” story to vividly express the level of oppression subjected to women at the time. As a way of strengthening the women stand, she uses Delia to portray a hardworking woman who receives scorn, spite and denied freedom. Equal to other stories, the author tries to tell the audience of the sufferings of women in the hands of that can be defined as male dominance. The paper seeks to explore the story, “Sweat” by referring to the writer as the subject and the way that he reveals the inequality, despise and humiliation of women in love affairs and mostly marriage.

The short story is comprised of two main characters: Delia and Sykes. They were husband and wife. In the story, Delia works as a washwoman to support the family, while her husband was jobless. Sykes is a womanizer and appears to be torturer to his wife. Delia has a snake phobia, which Sykes uses as her weakness to intimidate her (Hurston 10). Sykes is concerned of his personal interest. He spends a lot of time with his concubine, Bertha, instead of helping his wife in her day-to-day income earning. Delia lives in an abusive marriage. She realizes that her husband is cheating on her and therefore hates him even more than she did before. The people around her sympathize her and wish Sykes was dead. Sykes is a selfish man who comes late at night only to scare her wife with rattlesnake, which finally poisons him. This event marked the beginning of her freedom.

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Moreover, the author has used symbolism. The rattlesnake has been used to represent the evil and malice intentions of Sykes towards her wife. A clear indication of love then turned to hate. The piled clothing represents Delia’s hard work. Delia was a hardworking woman. A tolerant woman who is supportive, optimistic and wishes to achieve more than expected of a woman. The chinaberry tree symbolizes the source and sign of peace. She sat under the tree after her husband had been bitten by the snake (Hurston 27). It was her only place to gather back peace and forget the accident that occurred. As she sits under the tree she knew her freedom was on the way.

The themes in the story are clearly elaborated by the author. As the title suggests, “Sweat”, the story encompasses the struggles of a woman. Delia is an epitome of a hard-working woman who supports her husband. She had been loathed by her husband of her achievements since Sykes was jobless. Other themes touched in the story are domestic abuse, gender roles, love and hate and male dominance. Delia lives in suffering. Her marriage is characterized of torture, humiliation and physical abuse (Hurston 32). It is an unfaithful marriage as her husband cheats on her. The woman is expected to provide the family. This is well told by the story of Delia who works as a washwoman to support herself and her jobless husband. Therefore, it is crystal clear that there was no fairness in the responsibilities. The main question is: how does a woman wholly support a man who beats her (Burke 4). The effects of male dominance appeared to Delia in being overworked, tortured, hated and disrespected. Men, such as Sykes, thought that they had freedom to do whatever was good for them. For example, he cheated on her wife, punched her and even planned to kill her. Marriage comes out of love; however, the love they had to each other had no longer existed.

The issue of gender equity is also well-addressed by the author of “Sweat” and covered in her other story “A Rose of Emily”. Hurston uses both women as scapegoat to represent the suffering, tortured and disrespected woman of that time (Burke 6). In the story, “Sweat”, Delia is depicted as a hardworking woman who works as a washer to make the ends meet. More surprisingly, she works to support her jobless husband and the family. Any woman would expect her husband to respect and support her by all means, yet this had never happened in the story. Delia’s husband tortured and disrespected her by beating and being unfaithful to her. The two main characters have helped the author to show the relationship between the husband and wife within marriage institution.

Male dominance prevails in most of the author’s works. The male in the story believed to be stronger than their counterparts. However, the author also displays a woman as weak creature in that they needed strong and a controlling woman. In all the stories the women were married to strong men with whom they believed they would satisfy their emotional thirst for love. Love and hate have also been covered in Hurston’s work. The women got tortured in the name of love. In the story, Delia started to be beaten after two months of marriage (Diamond 116). It is undeniable that marriage came out of love. The author uses snake in the story to show malice, evil and hatred. Sykes, Delia’s husband uses a rattlesnake to mock and distress his wife. Stronger was his wife that despite her phobia towards snake he tolerated him. The same snake poisoned his husband. Hurston communicates the suffering of woman in the name of love. She describes her fellow women as oppressed, hated, despised and disrespected (Burke 8). It was quite shameful for Sykes cheating on her; it was the biggest betrayal to Delia.

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Love and hate is also a common theme addressed by Hurston in her artwork. She portrays a woman as a scapegoat of men anger. It is vivid that Delia received beating from her husband who once loved her but had changed to a hater. The woman is physically abused. She hated her husband though she could never show it. Here, love turned to hate. It was a necessary change, after all she had received physical and emotional torture from her husband. All women in her stories “Sweat”, “A Rose of Emily” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” suffers in the name of love (Diamond 117).

Male dominance and oppression are two themes that are correlated. The woman is the oppressed species in the stories “Sweat” “Yellow wallpaper” and “A rose of Emily”. Hurston allows the audience to see how women are suffering in the name of love. They suffer to extent of committing suicide. Emily commits suicide as a result of torture she could no longer persevere.

Domestic abuse is also a prominent theme throughout the stories. Many of the women in the stories suffered under marriages. In the “Sweat” story the author tells the audience that after two months of marriage Delia was being beaten (Hurston 37). Domestic violence has emerged as a vital theme in the story. Unfortunately, she indicates that the cases are never reported. Many women suffer under the roof. Delia was receiving torture from her ungrateful husband, she never took any action to sue or report him to anyone (Diamond 119). It was so extreme that people started sympathizing after her husband started cheating. Her husband promised Bertha, her concubine of great gifts yet she hardly received anything from him. Sykes was only interested in his own sexual satisfaction. Under the theme of domestic violence, Hurston sees the women as the most afflicted species (Burke 12). Despite the hard work and tolerance the women received no love from their men. Domestic violence at the time was associated more to women than men.

Gender roles are as well encompassed in her work. Hurston uses Delia to portray a woman who assumes most of the house chores and the responsibility of family support. On the other hand, her husband who is expected to be the breadwinner of the family lives in a life of leisure. He spent most of his time in Bertha house and came back home at down. The gender responsibilities were then not fair (King 146). It was expected that the men provide for the family, which never happened in this story.

It is well evident that the author, being a woman, has an important message to communicate to the readers. She had tried to receive the readers support on supporting hardworking women like Delia. The title of the story explores the plight of women and their achievements. Hurston uses the story to depict the predicaments, drawbacks and beliefs that are impeding woman to achieve their goals (Diamond 121). It is crystal clear from the story that Delia neither enjoyed her efforts nor the marriage she was in. In her pieces, Hurston has maneuvered to stand for a woman. She has expressed the need to support women in terms of love and material support.

The story, “Sweat”, is one of the great achievements of Hurston’s artwork in conveying her message to the reader. She had taken readers back few years ago probably with an aim of showing where we have come from. She has also helped trace back our poor beginning in terms of social life. The story tells of the struggle of a woman to win a space in the society. In his quest for support and respect of woman, she uses Delia to show how strong a woman can be if only supported. The story also covers the plight of women in the society. If Hurston’s aim was to capture moral support from the audience, she won it. The story insist on something very important to our society, that is, women deserve respect, empowerment, encouragement, equality and support for a better society.

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Analysis Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston English Literature Essay

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Sweat Zora Neale Hurston

“Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston is filled with many religious symbolism. Good versus evil plays a large role in the development of Delia and Skype Jones, as characters. The story is about Delia, an African American woman who is a washwoman for whites. Delia consistently looks to her religion for guidance and support as she endures the many hardships that she faces because, which are caused by her abusive husband and unfaithful husband, Sykes. Delia and Sykes Jones is a couple that have opposite moral values, but yet they are tied together through marital vows, that no longer have much importance or value.

Delia Jones is portrayed as the Protagonist and a very modest woman of weakness who later gains the strength to stand u to her abusive husband Skyes. Delia looks to God and her religion to help her build the strength she needs, so she can continue to be protected from her husband who is both physically and emotionally abusive to her. However, Sykes Jones, is every bit the opposite of Delia Jones. He has neither religious values nor any important moral standards. He is an adulterous, who takes Delia’s hard working money, and spends not on his wife but on his mistress Bertha.

Delia who relies solely on her faith and continues to stay contempt, no matter how her husband treats her, but Delia warned him that in the end, Sykes “sometime or ruther, Sykes, like everybody else, is gointer reap his sowing (par. 26). ” The white clothes that Delia washes are a symbol of Delia’s character, as being humble and having a humble spirit through all of Sykes emotional torment. While the white clothes are symbols of purity ad humbleness, Delia is a symbol of a God (Christian) like figure. The snake and whip are symbols in the story that represent evil.

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A snake is generally recognized as evil religiously, because of the biblical story Adam and eve, when Satan turns into a snake. There were two instances in the story when Sykes decides to scare Delia; the first instance is when he rubs the whip on Delia and makes her think its and actual snake, the other instance is when Sykes decides to place a box outside the front door with a rattle snake inside. Since Sykes is the one creating these scare tactics to Delia, he can also be seen as a symbol of evil, which he becomes the evil antagonist of the story.

These two instances could also be seen in the religious aspect with Adam and Eve. Another symbol that was present in the story was the dark grey sky. The dark grey sky symbolically means evil, remorse, and sadness. The dark grey sky came about when the snake Sykes used to scare Delia with, bites and kills him. While Sykes was dying, he was now feeling remorse for all his evil doings that he has done to Delia, so we think because he was calling out for her after the snake had bitten him. As the sky clears the story brings about another last symbol. Eventually, at the end of the story is when the reader can really see the Good vs.

Evil. Sykes soon begins to “reap is sowing”(par26), when he comes home and is killed by the snake, the one thing that he had used to scare Delia with so bad that she would leave, or die even. As Sykes is dying the sky begins to clear and the sun begins to rise. The clear, light sky and the sun represents freedom, purity, and peace, and the clear sky can also represent the Delia’s character as well as the white clothes that were mentioned in the beginning of the story. In all the symbols that were present in the story, the most important symbol was Delia’s sweat. Delia’s work-worn knees crawled over the earth in Gethsemane and up to the rocks of Calvary (par. 58)” Delia worked constantly just so she could provide for her family; however, Sykes was not appreciative at all. The sweat was a symbol of Delia’s’ hard work, pain, and tears; because through out the story Delia worked, cried many tears, put up with Sykes antics, but she still remained contempt through all his mess. All in all Delia’s sweat represents how she work through to those trying times to take care of her family, there was a lot of pain and tears as well. Within the story there were certain things that really stood out religiously.

The white clothes that Delia washes represent her character as humble, sanity, and how she remained contempt through Sykes torment and antics. The snake is show a couple of times within the story as well, when Sykes rubbed the bull-whip over her shoulder, the other is when he brought a real snake he had caught and placed it in the soap box. The snake ties into the Adam and Eve story when Satan took the form of a snake. The snake can also represent Sykes character as the antagonist. Zora Neale Hurston uses a lot of symbols and images that allowed the readers to actually visualize the story.

Her short story also revealed how no matter how much a person is in love with someone, if the other person does not love them then, not even marital vows can hold an importance. This story also shows the times. This story shows that back then some men just did not care enough for their wives to help them take care of the home. Some may have felt as though they call all the shots and when things did not go their way then they get upset. However, it shows that no matter what everybody will one day have to reap their sowing just as Sykes had to, when his own antics caused him his life.

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Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston Essay

Girl who raised pigeons.

I want to focus on the story ‘Sweat’ because it happened to be my favorite from the selected female authors we read this semester. I was very struck by the story because Hurston wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, and represents women even in a male-dominated culture. The story ‘Sweat’ takes place in a rural setting. Hurston tends to focus on relationships and conflicts in her writing. In this story, Delia is a hardworking woman. She is also strong, despite being in an abusive relationship. Her husband is portrayed as rude, and clearly doesn’t appreciate anything she does. The narrator also tells the reader how young and beautiful Delia used to look before her abusive marriage. The husband in the story is upset and mad at white people. However, Delia has to work so she defends herself and her job. The story ends with a snake bite that kills her husband. However, he was the one who brought it in the house to scare and more than likely kill Delia. I believe that Hurston’s intentions were to represent a strong female woman who held no regards for a man who mistreated her. I also believe that her intended audience was for females in general. By making Delia hardworking and strong, she is a woman who represents female empowerment. By doing so, Hurston makes women more aware that they don’t have to be consumed in a male-dominated culture, but that a woman can do as she pleases, and not have to

`` Sweat `` By Zola Neale Hurston

One of the first symbols that Nora Neale Hurston addresses and focuses on her novel is the title of the text which is “Sweat”. The title of this short story has a very important message. The title symbolizes how hard of a worker Delia Jones is in the short story. In the short story, it discusses the hard work and physical labor that Delia Jones performs. While Delia is such a hard worker that is the opposite of Sykes, he lives a very leisurely life. She is a hard worker, religious, neat, and independent. The title symbolizes the outcome of her hard work. In the short text, it says “Delia’s habitual meekness seemed to slip

Marxism And Feminism In Sweat By Zora Neal Hurston

The literary element of Marxist feminism focuses on the idea in which women are oppressed through capitalism and private property. Starting from the Harlem Renaissance the Hurston’s work focuses on issues presenting on the turmoil of African-Americans from American literature in the nineteenth century on. Zora Neal Hurston’s work entitled “Sweat” is a prime example of how culture is affected by its cultures standards of economic “base”. The story was published in 1926 during a time of trial and error considering the obstacles that faced many female authors at the time. Hurston’s story “Sweat” overlaps with her novel “Their Eyes are Watching God” which also supports the idea that culture

Symbolism In Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

Not only does he drain her financially, but he has also abused her mentally and emotionally for the most of their marriage. Delia reminds Sykes that all she does is "Sweat, sweat, sweat! Work and Sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat!" from the fifteen years she has been washing laundry and laments (Hurston 278). However, despite all the cruelty that is happening, the author still portrays her persona with great compassion. Delia has enormous love, but soon discovers that she has the capacity to hate as much as she loves which has developed from her long-suffering life with Sykes. The author creates Delia based off her own life of being a Christian woman, therefore, in the story "Sykes is clearly wrong throughout the story, and Delia is right in living out the principles of Christian love, tolerance, and humility" (Banks). The importance of this quote is that it puts Delia's character into perspective and reveals why the way she is. The author's beliefs and practices are demonstrated through Delia and explain her actions in the story.

Sweat by Zora Hurston Essay

2 Works Cited

Zora Neale Hurston’s short story "Sweat" takes place in the 1920s in a small African American community in southern Florida. The story takes a look at a woman dominated by her husband, a common issue for many wives in the south during this time. Delia Jones, the protagonist in the story, is a hard-working woman who has bought her own home and supported her husband for fifteen years by taking in the laundry of white folks from the next town over. Delia’s husband Sykes does not value her or the work she does to support the both of them. Sykes has abused his wife for fifteen years and takes no shame in parading around his fat mistress for all to see. Sykes wants to get rid of Delia and take everything she’s ever worked for. Delia, though

Analysis Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

“Everybody's good when they're good, darling. You don't judge a person by that. It's how they act when things aren't good that tells you who they really are.” ― Megan Jacobson (Goodreads, “56 Quotes”) Much like the world around us, literature has many elements that have the reader portray their own understanding and perspective of it. In Sweat, Zora Neale Hurston gives the reader many different situations where many readers can have several viewpoints. This seems to be very similar to the Bible, where a child of God can read the same scripture as another and have a completely different meaning in their eyes. Zora Hurston uses many elements that focus on the idea that actions one does speak louder than words, by the use of religious imagery and Delia, the wife.

Zora Hurston 's `` Sweat ``

“Sweat, sweat, sweat! Work and sweat cry and sweat, pray and sweat!”(Hurston 278) That is the life Delia has had for fifteen years. Delia, the main character of Zora Hurston’s short story “Sweat”, is trapped in a poisonous relationship with her husband Sykes. It is this abusive and adulterous marriage that causes Delia to make no attempt to save his life from a snake bite.

Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston Summary

The short story ''Sweat'', written by author, Zora Neale Hurston. The authors theme, elaborates from a black folk tradition. In which she first came to know, in her hometown, a black community in Eatonville, Fl. Christianity was a part of her tradition as well. Zora’s Father, was even Baptist Preacher. Another theme Zora uses, acquires love and hate. In this particular short story, the author characterizes an abusive relationship. Between a selfish husband, Sykes and wife Delia Jones. In spite of being married for more than fifteen years.

Essay on Foreshadowing and Irony in “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston

The short story “Sweat,” by Zora Neale Hurston, seems to exemplify the epitome of a bad marriage. Hurston uses foreshadowing and irony to demonstrate the disintegrated relationship between the abusive husband and the diligent wife. Throughout the story, it becomes obvious that the husband does not oblige by the motto, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Hurston’s use of irony and foreshadowing helps reveal the fact that “the good will prevail” and Sykes will finally get what he deserves.

Delia Jones' Transformation in Sweat Essay

1 Works Cited

Through external conflict exhibited by three significant occasions with the antagonist and husband, Sykes Jones, Zora Neale Hurston takes her leading character, Delia Jones, through an internal change from a submissive character to an aggressive and defensive character in her short story, "Sweat." When the story opens, one finds Delia Jones on a Sunday evening washing clothes, as was her profession, and humming a tune, wondering where her husband had gone with her horse and carriage. Little did she know that within the week she would stand against her abusive husband and watch him die of the situation he would create.

Essay about Sweat: Harlem Renaissance and Delia

Zora Neale Hurston is a remarkable author who reflects her life in most of her novels, short stories, and her essays. She was a writer during the Harlem Renaissance, also known as “the new negro movement”, however; her writings were not given proper recognition at first because they were not of the “norm” for that time period. All of the authors during the Harlem Renaissance were expected to write about race with a political mind set. Hurston was tired of seeing the same writings just different authors so her literary works were very different and were meant to stand out (Trudell). Among all of her abstracts, Sweat was a story of determination and oppression, with religion and strength as the backbone of

Theme of Good vs. Evil in “Sweat” Essay

5 Works Cited

The main character in Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” is a black woman who resides in the South that clutches on to her belief in God to help her get through the suffering that she endures from her abusive and adulterous husband, Sykes. “Sweat” is full of religious symbolism that demonstrates that Hurston was using the theme of good vs. evil in the short story.

Literary Analysis Of Modernism In Hurston's 'Sweat'

In “Sweat”, Hurston’s use of Sykes’s evil qualities illustrates the actions and the personality of the character Sykes. For example, Sykes has kicked the clothes around the ground because Delia refuses to stop cleaning white men’s clothes and kept working. Hurston’s description of how Sykes is threatening Delia as “Next time, Ah’m gointer kick’em outdoor!,” foregrounding his intimidation (Hurston 517). Snakes were known for being demanding to get what they want and Sykes used a ruthless tactic to hope that Delia would do what he wanted. Also, another illustration of his wicked qualities is shown when Merchant talks to the village men about Sykes seducing his wife with a basket of pecans. The description is described as “He's allus been crazy 'bout fat women, put in Merchant. He'd a' been tied up wid one long time ago if he could a' found one tub have him. Did Ah tell yuh 'bout him come sidlin' roun' mah wife-bringin' her a basket uh pee-cans outa his yard fuh a present? Yessir, mah wife! She tol' him tub take 'em right straight back home, cause Delia works so hard ovah dat washtub she reckon everything on de place taste lak sweat an' soapsuds. Ah jus' wisht Ah'd a' caught 'im 'roun' dere! Ah'd a' made his hips ketch on fiah down dat shell road,” emphasizes this fact (Hurston 519). The author makes use of Sykes’s womanizing ways to show that he tries to win the affection of Merchant’s wife instead of taking the pecans to Delia. His relationship is indifferent when it comes to romance toward Delia, which often

Literary Analysis: Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston Essay

In the short story “Drenched in Light” by Zora Neale Hurston, the author appeals to a broad audience by disguising ethnology and an underlying theme of gender, race, and oppression with an ambiguous tale of a young black girl and the appreciation she receives from white people. Often writing to a double audience, Hurston had a keen ability to appeal to white and black readers in a clever way. “[Hurston] knew her white folks well and performed her minstrel shows tongue in cheek” (Meisenhelder 2). Originally published in The Opportunity in 1924, “Drenched in Light” was Hurston’s first story to a national audience.

Race And Gender Roles : The Women On The Porch As Southern Gothic Literature

Tunc also notes that traces of racism can still be found in Southern literature. Even though civil rights were being encouraged, some individuals still held onto their Old Southern beliefs. Examples of these traits can be found in the works of Southern authors. In Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat”, Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”, and Kate Chopin’s “Desiree’s Baby”, the authors use racism as a defining point in their short stories. Each of the authors draw attention to the separation and the lingering hostility between the African American and Caucasian communities.

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Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston Essay Sample

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Literature , Family , Love , Thinking , Self Reflection , Reflection , Clothes , House

Published: 02/25/2020

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‘Sweat’ is an acclaimed short story written by Zora Neale Hurston which was published in the year 1926. The story gives a glimpse of contemporary society, condition of women and relations between men and women. This paper intends to discuss short story and examines literary aspects of the story. The story revolves around Delia and her husband, Sykes. Delia works as a washerwoman in a village and resides with her unemployed husband Sykes. Sykes does not work but keeps resenting that his wife washes clothes of white people. He also keeps her frightening with snakes as he is acquainted with her phobia with snakes. Delia is not happy as she is regularly beaten by her husband. Delia remembers how beautiful she was and how she became dull due to sufferings in her marriage. Delia realizes that she is the one who runs the house and there is no need for her to tolerate these sufferings. On the other hand her husband, Sykes is also exhausted with Delia and feels to be free of her. He plants one poisonous rattle snake in clothes of Delia but was himself bitten by the snake. Delia sits under a chinaberry tree, refuses helping him and waits till he dies. Zora Neale Hurston appears portraying a self reflection in her story. Delia realizes that she is suffering in her own house and her husband does not love her. She analyses everything with a new perspective (Lupton). Delia realizes that she runs the house and feeds her husband. She earns the money and fulfills all requirements of her husband. Delia realizes that her husband mocks her even after he is dependent on her for every requirement of his life. Delia realizes how she had been suffering all these years after her marriage with Sykes. As soon as she realizes all these things, she decides to stop all these things. When her husband tries to kill her by planting an extremely rattle snake in her clothes and gets bitten by the snake himself, she refuses to help him. Delia refuses to pay attention on his pleas and refuses to show any kind of mercy which he constantly pleaded till he died. Self reflection inspires readers to introspect about their beliefs, injustices and surroundings. Further it helps people in redefining as well as strengthening their weaknesses. Fictitious characters connect to readers and help them in evaluating their choices to deal with any given situation. Delia also inspires readers to get rid of their sufferings in a suitable manner. Self reflection is prominently visible in ‘Sweat’ and it helps readers in realizing good, bad and ugly and further provides them the chances to improve or change the situation (Hurston). ‘Sweat’ portrays the self in a different demeanor which is not generally found. The self, portrayed in this story is more practical and author does not hesitate from using horrifying manner to portray about the self. The self is so prominent that the character does not help her dying husband and the story was deliberately ended in a tragic way. If author had ended the story in a comic way by helping the dying husband, the self would not have become prominent as it is in its present form. Stephen K. George opines about self in these words, “The first proposition about selfhood that ethical criticism rests on is the assumption that there are ethically better and worse versions of our selves always pending and always being realized” (George 53). The ethical aspect has not been given importance but the importance is given to the self in this story. Author does not suggest to compromise from the idea of self merely for the sake of any relation. Self is portrayed above everything by the author. Delia did not even bother to comfort her even after his several supplications of mercy, once she realizes her sufferings by her husband (George 53). Having observed succinct analysis of the above mentioned subject, it can be concluded that self is very prominently portrayed in the story, ‘Sweat’. The author has portrayed self through the character and placed it above everything else in the story. It appears that author is suggesting readers to break all kinds of bonds but not to compromise with self. ‘Sweat’ puts it to readers that ‘Self’ is the most important aspect of a human being and everything else comes after the self.

Works Cited

George, Stephen K. Ethics, Literature, and Theory: An Introductory Reader. Oxford: Sheed & Ward, 2005. Hurston, Zora Neale. Sweat. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1997. Lupton, Mary Jane. "Zora Neale Hurston and the Survival of the Female." The Southern Literary Journal 15(1) (1982): 45-54.

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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.

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Essays Related to Sweat

essay on sweat by zora neale hurston

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!" ...

essay on sweat by zora neale hurston

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. ...

essay on sweat by zora neale hurston

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. ...

4. Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston

essay on sweat by zora neale hurston

"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. ...

5. Respect, Trust, and Listening

essay on sweat by zora neale hurston

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. ...

Word Count: 522

6. Summary of The Indian Sweat

essay on sweat by zora neale hurston

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. ...

Word Count: 478

7. Delia Jones in Sweat

essay on sweat by zora neale hurston

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...

Word Count: 566

8. Blood, Sweat, and Tears

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...

Word Count: 963

9. "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston

essay on sweat by zora neale hurston

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. ...

Word Count: 477

IMAGES

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“Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston
SWEAT by Zora Neale Hurston quotes and explinaitons
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“Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston
(DOC) Discuss the importance of gender in ‘Sweat’ by Zora Neale Hurston.

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COMMENTS

Sweat Summary & Analysis | LitCharts
Delia abandons her meek posture and stands to defend herself. She proclaims that her sweat paid for the house and she will do as she pleases in it, threatening Sykes with a cast iron skillet. Sykes, surprised and somewhat cowed, slinks away with a parting insult to spend the night somewhere that Delia “knew too well.”.
Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston | CommonLit
Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) was an African American novelist, short story writer, folklorist, anthropologist, and one of the most important figures of the Harlem Renaissance. Hurston set many of her works, including "Sweat," in Florida and used the distinctive dialect of the region in her writing.
“Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston | Free Essay Sample
In the “Sweat” story the author tells the audience that after two months of marriage Delia was being beaten (Hurston 37). Domestic violence has emerged as a vital theme in the story. Unfortunately, she indicates that the cases are never reported.
Analysis Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston English Literature Essay
The short English literature story “Sweat,” written by Zora Neale Hurston, shows Sykes as the husband of the leading character Delia in the story. During the story it seems as though Sykes gets easily upset and angered at his wife Delia.
Sweat by Zora Hurston Essay - 1650 Words | Bartleby
Essay on Foreshadowing and Irony in “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston The short story “Sweat,” by Zora Neale Hurston, seems to exemplify the epitome of a bad marriage. Hurston uses foreshadowing and irony to demonstrate the disintegrated relationship between the abusive husband and the diligent wife.
Sweat Zora Neale Hurston Essay Example - PHDessay.com
Views 547. “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston is filled with many religious symbolism. Good versus evil plays a large role in the development of Delia and Skype Jones, as characters. The story is about Delia, an African American woman who is a washwoman for whites. Delia consistently looks to her religion for guidance and support as she endures ...
Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston Essay - 1705 Words | Bartleby
Sweat by Zora Hurston Essay. Zora Neale Hurston’s short story "Sweat" takes place in the 1920s in a small African American community in southern Florida. The story takes a look at a woman dominated by her husband, a common issue for many wives in the south during this time. Delia Jones, the protagonist in the story, is a hard-working woman ...
Free Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston Essays | WOW Essays
‘Sweat’ is an acclaimed short story written by Zora Neale Hurston which was published in the year 1926. The story gives a glimpse of contemporary society, condition of women and relations between men and women. This paper intends to discuss short story and examines literary aspects of the story.
FREE Sweat Essay - ExampleEssays
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.