In Zora Neale Hurston's story, “Sweat,” Delia experiences a
transformation from a scared, passive woman to a strong, defiant one
. At the start of the story, she keeps her head down and works hard; she is terribly afraid when her husband, Sykes, drops his whip on her shoulder, pretending it is a snake.
How has Delia changed over time Sweat?
How has Delia changed over time? She has become more lovely with old age. She has become much bolder, like Bertha.
She has grown cynical because life never gave her a chance to love
.
What happens to Delia in Sweat?
Sykes bring a snake into the house
, hoping to scare Delia out. She finds it in the laundry basket and runs away in fright. That night, Sykes gets bitten by the snake. He dies, and Delia is free.
How would you describe Delia in Sweat?
In “Sweat,” the main character, Delia Jones, is portrayed as
a strong-willed, hard-working washwoman who would wash clothes for white people
. She worked tireless to provide for her family. Delia was married to Sykes, who would berate, beat and mentally abuse Delia, incessantly.
What does Sweat represent in the short story?
The title of the short story “Sweat” signifies
Delia's suffering at the hands of her abusive husband, Sykes
. Delia is a wash-woman who toils to keep her household afloat on her meager income.
What does Sykes use to scare Delia at the beginning of sweat?
Delia is a washerwoman who works long hours in a small Central Florida village. Her husband Sykes does not work, yet he resents that Delia cleans “white folks'” clothes in their home. Sykes scares his wife of fifteen years by using
her fear of snakes
.
Why does Delia and Sykes?
Delia probably stays with Sykes
after he has been so abusive to her
because within that time period women did not typically divorce their husbands. She also has a personality that suggests that she upholds commitments and will bear through difficult times.
Why didnt Delia leave Sykes?
Delia probably stays with Sykes
after he has been so abusive to her
because within that time period women did not typically divorce their husbands. She also has a personality that suggests that she upholds commitments and will bear through difficult times.
Is Delia a weak or strong character in sweat?
Delia Jones is a
weak protagonist
who goes through unfortunate events with her husband to emerge as a strong protagonist in the end of the story “Sweat”. Delia starts off emotionally weak at the beginning of the story because she cannot stand up for herself, especially around her husband Sykes.
Why does Sykes call Delia a hypocrite?
Delia's husband, Sykes, considers her to be a hypocrite
because she is working on Sunday
. Sykes reveals his attitude about Delia's “hypocrisy” in the story's exposition . After she reorganizes the clothes that he has disturbed, Delia goes back to washing them.
What is the theme of the story Sweat?
“Sweat” tells the story of a domestically abused, religiously devout laundress and her adulterous, deadbeat husband. The dominant theme is
good versus evil
, but the story also incorporates the themes of hard work versus laziness and fate.
What is the symbolism of Sweat?
In “Sweat,” Hurston uses the symbol of sweat to
represent the vital essence of Delia's being
. Along with her tears and her blood, “the salty stream … had been pressed from her heart.” Her essence or being is devoted to her work, which can be seen as an extension of herself and in which she takes great pride.
What does sweating symbolize?
Sweat is symbolic of
fear, anger, and labor
. Her sweat and blood are used to wash and care for the white people's clothes.
Is Delia responsible for Sykes death?
The consequence for Delia is that “
an independent woman is thus partially responsible for her husband‟s death
, thus signaling Hurston‟s move towards depicting women who change their lives by seeing their world anew” (Thompson 745-46).
What does Delia threaten to do the next time that Sykes beats her?
In Hurston's “Sweat”, Delia takes the abuse without fighting back until the fifteenth year of their marriage. Then she starts to fight back by reminding Sykes that he is dependent on her and by
threatening him that if he dares to beat her again she will tell the white people so help her
.
What does Delia Jones do for work?
Terms in this set (5) What sort of work does Delia Jones do to make ends meet? Delia Jones is
a washwoman
. What object does Sykes carry with him when he drives the buggy?
