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The Use Of Dialect In Zora Neale Hurston's Sweat

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Word choice is a potent power that can be employed to evoke a variety of feelings ranging from light-hearted amusement to pure rage. Zora Neale Hurston’s depictions of African Americans in “Sweat” simply as human being with little reference to racial inequality with white people is what defines Her as a modernist figure. Infusing dialect endemic to African Americans is what “makes it new” and adds dimensions of authenticity to her characters in a way which otherwise could not be achieved.
Hurston uses dialect to bolster her attempt at effectively portraying African American day to day life likely for several reason including highlighting feminism as a social issue that should be viewed on par with racial equality, to show other African Americans
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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.

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