ipl-logo

Resilience In 'Sweat'

568 Words3 Pages

Lulu Mihyar Ms. Gommermann Honors English 10 03 February 2023 Resilience in “Sweat” Through the use of imagery and symbolism in her story “Sweat,” Hurston highlights the theme that individuals write their own destinies. In the story, the protagonist, Delia is being abused by her husband of 15 years, Sykes. Throughout the exhausting relationship, Delia’s confidence in standing up to Sykes increases. The author creates a vivid image with explicit details of a scene to emphasize the theme. During an argument at dinner, Delia commands Sykes to remove the snake that he had brought to the house to scare her. Delia bursts out her pent-up rage by declaring she wants him out of her house. Sykes is so awestruck: “[He] almost let the huge wad of corn bread and …show more content…

Sykes’ reaction reveals the rarity of her confidence and independence. Specifically, his “amazement” was so strong that his mouth released his dinner and it portrayed Delia’s assertiveness and how unusual it was for her to make her own decisions and demands. Additionally, Sykes asked a question during another meal that implied he was not a financial burden to her, even though he spends excessive amounts of her earned money. Afterward, Hurston forms a detailed scene of a heated argument between the characters. Furiously, Delia “seized the iron skillet from the stove and struck a defensive pose…It cowed [Sykes] and he did not strike her as he usually did” (2). Hurston’s juxtaposition of the intense words “seized” and “cowed” portrays the abruptness of the act, as well as the character roles reversing. Delia intimidates Sykes, as he has done to her in the past, displaying how Delia takes charge of her destiny. The abuse Delia endures forces her to become resilient over time and overcome any hardships. The author utilizes symbolism to show the theme that individuals write their own destinies. Earlier in the narrative, Delia states she

Show More
Related

Allusions In Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

427 Words | 2 Pages

In the story Delia’s marriage with Sykes is seen as a huge hardship in her life, however if she overcomes this obstacle she will be free. Her resiliency will lead her to the promised land. At the end, the rattlesnake Sykes brought into the home to scare Delia earlier in the story had gotten loose and started attacking him. She stood and watched him die because “...she knew the cold river was creeping up and up to extinguish that eye which must know by now that she knew” (7). This calls back to the Jordan River allusion that was mentioned previously.

Read More

Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston: A Comparative Analysis

480 Words | 2 Pages

"Sweat" follows the traditional story structure, with a beginning, middle and end, allowing the reader to follow the characters' journey. In contrast, "Why Women Always Take Advantage of Men" is structured in a more analytical manner, with the author providing evidence and arguments to support her thesis. Throughout both stories, the author uses literary devices to create effects and convey ideas. For example, in "Sweat," the author uses metaphor to describe Delia's situation, such as when she says "the sun beats down on her like a lash. " This metaphor conveys the emotional and physical pain Delia experiences, and helps the reader understand the severity of her situation.

Read More

Sweat Hurston Character Analysis

1101 Words | 5 Pages

Delia constantly reminds Sykes that for the past fifteen years, she is the one who has been in charge of food among other basic necessities. Sykes being the disrespectful man that he is, does not respect the fact that his wife works very hard to offer food. He does not appreciate that she does other people laundry so that he can be comfortable. Furthermore, he uses the money the Delia earns to make sure that his mistress Bertha is satisfied.

Read More

Similarities Between Sweat And Their Eyes Were Watching God

1678 Words | 7 Pages

This theme shows the usage of self determination when looking at one’s fate, rather than a divine power. This short story outlines an abusive marriage between Delia, a dedicated washwoman, and Sykes, a lazy and aggressive husband. Hurston’s characters may be said to represent the conflict of good vs. evil, as Delia is shown as hardworking and kind, while conversely, Sykes is shown as malicious and abusive. These circumstances help set the stage for Hurston's comparison of their personalities as it connects to their marital roles. Feeling exasperated over her husband's unprovoked aggression, Delia expresses her feelings, saying: “Looka heah, Sykes, you done gone too fur….

Read More

Symbolism In Their Eyes Were Watching God And Sweat, By Hurston

1134 Words | 5 Pages

Janie doesn’t conform to what she has been told to do after this sudden change in her life. This is also exemplified when Janie gets back from the muck and talks to Phoebe about what happened to her. Janie states, “De Grand Lodge, de big convention of livin’ is just where Ah been dis year and half y’all ain’t seen me” ( Their Eyes Were Watching God 6). This further presents the idea of Janie finding her own freedom by overcoming her past. Janie was muted by others but she has found herself with Tea Cake even when everyone in Eatonville judged her without knowing who or what she really was.

Read More

Social Oppression In Hurston's Sawley

1159 Words | 5 Pages

Hurston 's intention in this novel is to bring out Arvay 's urge for self-identity and motherhood. At the beginning of the novel, Arvay desires to devote her life to religion but it is not taken seriously by many of the young men in Sawley. However, they continue to pursue her, despite her “fits and spasms” like the ones which her mother had in her youth: “No one thought too much about the seizures. Fits were things that happened to some young girls, but they grew out of them sooner or later. It was usually taken as a sign of a girl being “high-strung”.

Read More

Character Analysis Of Delia In Zora Neale Hurston's Sweat

650 Words | 3 Pages

Sykes brings in a real snake and plans to poison Delia by planting a snake in her washing basket knowing that she has a fear of them. “There lay the snake in the basket! He moved sluggishly at first, but even as she turned round and round, jumped up and down in an insanity of fear, he began to stir vigorously” (Hurston 8). She got away and fall asleep in the barn. Not knowing the snake’s whereabouts Sykes walks in and gets bitten.

Read More

Comparing Story Of An Hour And Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

1184 Words | 5 Pages

Someone who will cherish them for all eternity. In a close examination of the way Louise Mallard, the protagonist of “The Story of an Hour”, and Delia, the protagonist of “Sweat”, react to their encounters with their marriages demonstrates that authors Kate Chopin and Zora Neale Hurston both use short stories to tell similar stories about the difficulties of their emotional states in their marriages. First, it is seen that Louise Mallard is an unchanging character who values her freedom from her marriage. Throughout the story it becomes obvious how self-centered Louise Mallard is.

Read More

Theme Of Faith In Zora Neale Hurston's Sweat

96 Words | 1 Pages

The amount of torment one human can endure is amazing, and Delia Jones in Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” isn’t exempt. She manages to hold together a home, work full-time, clothe and feed her extremely abusive husband. The question lingers; how can one continue to live in this kind of situation. It seems that for Delia, God plays a big part in her life, and Zora has appropriately left behind contextual references, symbols and representations in “Sweat”. Faith is a major theme utilized in the short story, while Sykes’ timely end rewards Delia for her priest-like patience.

Read More

Zora Hurston Misguided Thoughts

1022 Words | 5 Pages

Just like in the story of “Sweat” by Zora Hurston and the film “Dolores

Read More

Symbolism In Sweat

882 Words | 4 Pages

Ah been married to you fur fifteen years, and Ah been takin’ in washin’ for fifteen years. Sweat, sweat, sweat! Work and sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat!”(Hurston 2,17). The Sweat is the result of Delia 's diligent work, and without it there is no support system. It also stands for her hard-working attitude and how she has attempted to influence her work as best as she can, it is a vital piece of her life.

Read More

Analysis Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

820 Words | 4 Pages

For the first time Sykes backs down. This is the beginning of the end for their relationship. Hurston lays the foundation for a story of good versus evil. Fifteen years is a long time for anyone to be mistreated and taken for granted. Poor Delia once being a lovely young woman, soft and feminine, over her fifteen years of marriage, she had worked until she had nothing soft left about her.

Read More

Zora Hurston Sweat Analysis

676 Words | 3 Pages

I could tell that the story was going to be about some major conflict between Sykes and Delia. Tension increased when Hurston wrote that Delia “seized the iron skillet from the stove and struck a defensive pose” (67). Sykes was clearly a very bad husband and when I read, “Two months after the wedding, he had given her the first brutal beating” (67), I wondered why Delia had stayed with him for fifteen

Read More

Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

1169 Words | 5 Pages

With Sykes out of the picture, Delia was free to be herself again. However, letting go of her husband was not an easy thing to do. Even after all of the abuse and manipulation, she still felt sorry for him. Hurston describes this moment: "A surge of pity too strong to support bore her away from that eye that must, could not, fail to see the tubs. He would see the lamp.

Read More

Critical Analysis Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

1187 Words | 5 Pages

During this rough time period, segregation was common and prohibition was recently introduced. Along with this, many other social and political issues played a role in Hurston's "Sweat." Consequently, a historical background of the early twentieth century would be ideal in order for the reader to better comprehend and appreciate the work thoroughly. In this story, Hurston writes about Delia and Syke's work lives. In the early 1900's, approximately sixty percent of African American woman and about twenty percent of men were employed (Mclaughlin).During this time period, men felt that they were vastly superior over women.

Read More

More about Resilience In 'Sweat'

Related Topics

Open Document