Sweat By Hurston Essay

Gender Roles in the Hurston's short story ”Sweat”

Imagine having to work tirelessly every single day just for one's money to get taken away by the person who is supposed to protect and take care of them. This is what happens to Delia, in the short story “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston. In “Sweat”, Deila constantly works to support herself by washing clothes and Sykes, her abusive husband, spends his time on other women. Delia gets mistreated by her husband Sykes and physically and mentally abuses her. At the end of the story Deila eventually stood up to Sykes and took control of her own life back. “Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston” is set in a small town in Central Florida. The central idea of the short story is Deila’s struggle to have control

The short story “Sweat'' has a larger message than just Delia escaping Sykes. The message is that any woman in the real world can overcome mistreatment and abuse and challenge gender roles just like Delia. By using her story as an example of determination, Hurston shows the struggles that women face due to gender roles. This story teaches the audience that women can assert their independence and not listen to those gender roles and have their own paths to freedom. “Ah been takin’ in washin’ fur fifteen years. Sweat, sweat, sweat! Work and sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat! [...] Mah tub of suds is filled yo’ belly with vittles more times than yo’ hands is filled it. Mah sweat is done paid for this house and Ah reckon Ah kin keep on sweatin’ in it” (Hurston 1026). This quote from the short story is the first time that Delia stood up to Sykes. Deila is fed up and challenges the gender roles to gain her independence. This quote also shows how Hurston uses Delia's character to teach the audience that women have the power to overcome mistreatment and achieve freedom through their own determination. Suzanne Green, who also analyzed many other short stories like “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin wrote, “Delia is successful in her world in that she can support herself, yet her otherness is not fully

The character of Delia shows how women can have the strength to overcome that mistreatment and attain independence. Delias journey from an abused wife to a strong and independent woman is inspiring and shows women that they are capable of doing the same, no matter what the gender roles are. One of my strongest points is Delia’s determination and strength, which is a powerful message to women who may be facing the same situation. Another powerful aspect of the story is the way it challenges gender roles. The story encourages women to take control of their own lives and stand up for themselves, even if that challenges societal norms. In conclusion, “Sweat” is a story that speaks to the experiences of many women who have faced mistreatment in their lives. Hurston’s powerful portrayal of Delia’s journey serves as a source of inspiration for women everywhere, and encourages women to challenge gender roles and create a better future for