ipl-logo

Summary Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

591 Words3 Pages

“Sweat”, written by Zora Neale Hurston, is about the story of a couple who is suffering throughout their unhealthy relationship. Hurston describes to her readers the amount of emotional and physical abuse a woman is able to handle. Similarly, Hurston also shows how men during this time, viewed women in such a negative way with no respect. Despite the fact that both the husband in the story, Sykes, and the wife, Delia, are both unhappy with their marriage, Delia suffers the most throughout the story. Sykes is a very controlling and abusive husband to Delia, regardless of how hardworking she is to be able to take care of her husband. While reading about the hostile life that Delia lived with her husband for fifteen years, I did admire her …show more content…

She obeys everything her husband says and takes care of him by cooking as almost all wives were expected to do. Though the difference in this marriage is that instead of Sykes providing for the household by working while Delia stays home, like the traditional wives during this time would, Delia was the provider of the house. There came a point in Delia’s life that she felt she finally had to transition from staying silent, to taking the pain Sykes gave her and using it to her advantage to overcome her suffering by standing up for herself. I saw the change in her character first, when she gave Sykes her opinion on how horrible her life had turned out because she had married him,and also told him how she deserved a better life. Delia jones exclaims, “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!” (560). This shows that Delia is finally releasing her anger to her husband after fifteen years of her suffering to make Sykes realize how much she has put up with for years. I believe this also stands as a warning to Sykes saying Delia will not be accepting that behavior as she had, for times to come. Ms. Jones bravery by changing her attitude with her husband in an instant reflects her turning point and the breakdown that all the abuse that Sykes controlled her

Show More
Related

The Relationship Between Sykes And Delia

1478 Words | 6 Pages

As Sykes grinds dirt into the clothes that Delia’s washing, Delia decides to stand up for herself. She tells Sykes that even if he says he doesn’t care, her washing those clothes is what put food on his plate and kept a roof over his head. I think that this exchange shows that Hurston cares very little for the gender roles in society. Even though men are supposed to be the providers, Delia is the sole provider in the relationship and yet Sykes still treats her like garbage. I believe that this is Hurston’s way of challenging the idea of male domination and the patriarchal society being present no matter what the situation

Read More

Lost Innocence In Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God

1030 Words | 5 Pages

In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, we follow our protagonist, Janie, through a journey of self-discovery. We watch Janie from when she was a child to her adulthood, slowly watching her ideals change while other dreams of hers unfortunately die. This is shown when Jane first formulates her idea of love, marriage, and intimacy by comparing it to a pear tree; erotic, beautiful, and full of life. After Janie gets married to her first spouse, Logan Killicks, she doesn’t see her love fantasy happening, but she waits because her Nanny tells her that love comes after marriage. Janie, thinking that Nanny is wise beyond her years, decides to wait.

Read More

Sweat Hurston Character Analysis

1101 Words | 5 Pages

Name: Lakisha Minnis Instructor: Mr. Compton English 2202-001 Date: April. 24, 2017 Sweat Zora Neale Hurston is a prolific writer famed for numerous award winning plays, novels and short stories. In this paper, I will be elaborating on a character from the novel Sweat. Her novel Sweat was first published in 1926. Sweat is a novel that tells a story about the good, evil, and domestic abusive husband.

Read More

Character Analysis Of Delia Jones In Hurston's Sweat

387 Words | 2 Pages

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. For example, Sykes would walk into the room where Delia just folded clothing for the white people and find the whitest pile of clothes, stomp all over them and then kick them across the room, leaving her to clean up and restack them. Sykes was also openly living in infidelity with another woman, named Bertha.

Read More

What Is The Central Idea Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

704 Words | 3 Pages

In Zora Neale Hurston’s short story “Sweat” and her essay “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” the African American social group is being represented in many ways. The texts have similar ways that African Americans are represented for the time period. The African Americans or “colored people” are represented in an aspect that comes from the author's point of view. The African Americans are represented as being unbothered, growing up in a closed community, playing the game with whites, and optimistic.

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

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

How Does Delia Take Action Against Sykes

360 Words | 2 Pages

. She is just simply remaining hopeful, because she knows that karma will happen to Sykes for all that he is doing to her. Her faith is preventing her from taking action against Sykes, because she knows that God will take care of it in the end. She is a hard worker Knowing that her husband Sykes does not have a job, nor does he help her out around the house, Delia has to work extra hard in order to keep food on the table, clothes on their backs, and a roof over their heads.

Read More

Comparing Story Of An Hour And Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

1184 Words | 5 Pages

(Hurston 532). She believes in karma, that whatever Sykes does will come back around to him. She is good and believes that in time good things will come to her. Also it is clearly seen in the story how dynamic Delia’s character is. In the beginning, Delia is scared of Sykes and is too afraid to stand up to him.

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

An Analysis Of 'Puppy, By George Saunders Puppy'

732 Words | 3 Pages

How the woman thinks and treat their husband 's also varied because Marie’s life is very exciting, fun, and filled with compassion for those around her. Callie has a tougher outlook on life as she sees no wrong in teaching her children natural selection and pleasing her husband even though the relationship may

Read More

Zora Hurston Sweat Analysis

676 Words | 3 Pages

Before I began reading, I tried guessing what the story was about. Only knowing that the title was “Sweat”, I thought the story might be about sports or hard labor. Then I opened up the story and the first thing I noticed was that the author’s name was Zora Hurston. I only found out that the author was female once I saw “her” in the section below describing her life and writing career. I found out other important things such as she lived in Florida, she wrote during the Harlem Renaissance (1920s), she died impoverished, and her work was eventually found by the women’s movement.

Read More

Symbolism In Sweat

882 Words | 4 Pages

Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston displays countless acts of symbolism through imagery, it partially requires deeper knowledge and understanding. Religion has clearly played a predominant role in Hurston 's life, this is exemplified by the references to a snake and Gethsemane. The symbolism presented throughout the story has a significant impact and in the wake of evaluating it; they give the story more clout while justifying the true meaning behind the title, Sweat. The most obvious symbol in the story is the title. In the narrative it states, “Looka heah, Sykes, you done gone too fur.

Read More

Analysis Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

820 Words | 4 Pages

In the short story Sweat written by Zora Neale Hurston, she tells the story of a hard-working woman named Delia Jones and her abusive, cheating husband Sykes. Delia and Sykes are drastically different characters. Delia is an honest, church going woman, who cleans white people 's laundry to make ends meet and Skyes is a low-down womanizer who uses his wife 's income to support not only himself but also Bertha the woman he is having an affair with. After years of putting up with her husband 's mistreatment, Delia finally holds her ground. She defends her job with a skillet.

Read More

Marion Brown Expose: Marion Brown

317 Words | 2 Pages

Marion Brown Expose proved in her lifetime that one doesn’t need to be arrogant and aggressive to show strength. Marion was a quiet spirit, but nevertheless, a very strong, dynamic, and effective spirit. She was the epitome of what a daughter, sister, wife, and mother should be. A prime example of her excellent character was the care of her elderly mother, which we affectionately called Mrs. Brown, until her transition. Marion wasn’t just a sister-in-law; she was our sister too.

Read More

More about Summary Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

Related Topics

Open Document