Summary Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

In the story “Sweat” written by Zora Neale Hurston, a hard-working African American woman named Delia Jones is married to a cruel abusive man Sykes Jones. While Delia works hard at separating laundry, Sykes sneaks up behind her and frightened her by placing a bull whip by her which she perceived as a snake. Sykes grinned viciously. Delia has had enough of his games and would not stand to tolerate one more second of his abusive actions. She stands up and raises her voice while holding an iron skillet. In awe of Delia’s unusual actions Sykes decides to leave, slamming the gate behind him. Days passed and it was time to deliver the fresh laundry. Delia and Sykes were the talk of the town. People wondered why Delia stayed with such an ignorant man that has affairs and abuses her physically and verbally. The

In this story, the central Idea is people with faith will have good fate and will rise and have victory above their enemy. At the end of the day on which Delia threatened Sykes with an iron skillet, Sykes slides into bed with Delia and tells her he should have hit her for standing up to him. She laid there quietly which was a “triumphant indifference to all that he was or did” (Hurston604). Delia realized that Sykes was not worth her words. Her bold attitude progresses throughout the story and she finds more comfort in her faith. “Whatever goes over the devil’s back, is got to come under his belly” (Hurston 604). In this quote the literal meaning is evil people will reap what they sow. With all the commotion going on in her house, she still finds comfort in God and shows Sykes mercy. “Delia’s work-worn knees crawled over the earth in Gethsemane and up the rocks of Calvary…” (Hurston 606). Delia is overcoming her abusive relationship and rises above Sykes becoming free of