“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 purpose of Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston?
The central goal of Hurston is to empower and challenge her readers about the violence that exists within the black community .
What was the short story Sweat about?
Sweat tells the story of Delia Jones, a humble, timid woman trapped in a marriage with an abusive man who takes pride in mistreating her . The story opens up on a spring night in Florida, with Delia busy going about her job as a washwoman. We learn that her husband, Sykes, has run off with her horse and cart.
What does the rattlesnake symbolize in the story Sweat?
Hurston presents the snake in “Sweat” as a representation of evil . ... Because the snake represents evil in this story, it is closely linked with Sykes, who is an abusive man. The bullwhip Sykes tosses onto Delia resembles a snake. Later he brings a rattlesnake to his house to terrorize his wife.
What is the tone of the story Sweat?
Tone refers to the way the author feels about his or her subject . Hurston seems quite sympathetic to Delia Jones, a hardworking woman who has the misfortune to be married to a despicable man called Sykes.
What is the irony that takes place in the story sweat?
The main irony in the story is that all of Sykes’ schemes against Delia result in unexpected, negative consequences for him . Sykes brings the snake into the house because he knows that Delia is mortally afraid of reptiles. To Sykes, the snake is a weapon.
Why is Sykes so abusive towards Delia?
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 is the story called sweat?
The story’s title “Sweat” refers to all the physical labor that Delia performs , which contrasts with Sykes’ life of leisure and entitlement.
Who is Bertha in sweat?
Bertha is Sykes’ mistress from another town . She comes to live in a boarding house that he pays for. Most of the men of the town dislike Bertha and consider her ugly, but Sykes prefers her over Delia. Joe owns the village store and has the respect of the neighbors who spend time on his porch.
How is the story sweat structured overall?
“Sweat” is structured around the contrast between Delia and her husband Sykes , and nothing is more basic to that contrast than their attitudes towards work. Through these two characters, Hurston affirms the value of hard work as a foundation for both moral integrity and survival under difficult conditions.
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.
What is the conflict in sweat?
The conflict in “Sweat” is between Delia and her abusive, adulterous husband, Sykes . The conflict starts when Delia decides to stand up for herself for the first time. The action begins when Sykes lays a bullwhip across Delia’s shoulders to scare her.
How does the end of the story affect the reader sweat?
This snake ironically ends up killing Sykes. At the end of the story, it becomes evident to the reader that Delia does not make any attempt to help her husband as he lay dying from the wounds inflicted by the snake , as the narrator informs us “Orlando with its doctors was too far.
What genre is Sweat?
Drama; Family Drama . Of course, drama also comes from actions and events in “Sweat,” like when Delia notices the soap box Sykes brings home and which holds her worst nightmare: a rattlesnake. The shortness of this story makes every event, minor or major, feel like a blow in the gut—in the best of ways, of course.
What literary devices are used in Sweat?
Although the author, Zora Neale Hurston, utilizes a varying array of symbolism, imagery, irony, and a magnitude of other literary techniques in the short story “Sweat”, it is the grim themes of marriage, abuse, and karmic irony that are the driving forces throughout the story.
What is jurden water?
“Jurden Water” is mentioned in the story which can be interpreted to the Jordan River in the journey of the Israelites. When the Israelites cross this river led by Joshua they had reached their promise land.
