Summary Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

The short story “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston morosely narrates the protagonist’s (Delia) marriage crisis, abuses and fears she has to overcome. Initially, the short story enfolds in a spring night in Florida, in which the protagonist is trying to finish the pile of clothes she must wash for her boss. However, Delia is scared by her malicious husband Sykes, who uses his big bull whip as a snake to frighten her. The couple marriage crisis clearly illustrated by the physically and verbal, the wife receives from her husband. As well, as the humiliation the wife receives from her husband by making his affair publicly. Sykes intention is to leave Delia and obtain the house all for him and his lover. To execute his plan, he brings a rattle snake

Delia is terrified of snakes and it she expresses, “You know it would skeer me- looks just like a snake, an’ you know how skeered Ah is of snakes” (Hurston 139). The snake is significant because it is synonymous to malice and danger. Skye wanted the snake to first scare Delia and has a result of her fear she would leave the house. Similarly, when Skye brings the snake to the house he tells Delia, “He wouldn’t bite me cause Ah know how to handle ‘im. Nohow he wouldn’t risk breakin out his fangs ‘gin yo’ skinny laigs” (Hurston 144). Skye presents himself as an authority figure. He believes that because he is a man he can control the snake just as he tries to control his wife. Likewise, he diminishes Delia and tells her that she is an easier prey for the snake to bite. The gender inequality is clear and is presented through the common stereotypes society has categorize genders. Evidently Skye words mean that a man has authority, power, but most of all is superior to all. Yet Delia because she is a woman is fragile, in defense, and is inferior. This perspective demonstrates inequality because society does view men and women differently due to their physically features. However, the irony is Skye claims he is strong and when the snake bit him he cries, “Delia is dat you Ah heah?” (Hurston 148). Skye impatiently hopes that Delia would come and rescue him. Unfortunately for Skye, Delia just sees him lay there and does nothing. The irony in this is the strong and resilient man not only gets bit my snake he brought, but proves he is a coward. Unlike, Delia not only proved herself she is a resilient woman but the act of not helping her husband demonstrates her coldness. Therefore the ironic tone helps demonstrate inequality and the justice Delia