Their Eyes Were Watching God And Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

Denial, Acceptance, and Resilience in Zora Neal Hurston’s Literature Since the 1930s, individuals have lived under a certain power or authority in which some defy or submit to it. Zora Neal Hurston writes two compelling stories, surrounding the protagonists, 2 black women. Janie from “Their Eyes Were Watching God” and Delia from “Sweat”, endure a myriad of adversity. Both are black women who spend their life in abuse and discrimination. While both works treat the subject of the resilience of social class, “Sweat” emphasizes that individuals write their own fate regardless of social standing, whereas “Their Eyes Were Watching God” highlights that manmade hierarchy is inevitable. In both pieces of literature, the notion that individuals persevere

During an argument at dinner, Sykes implies that he does not spend her hard-earned money. Delia furiously “seized the iron skillet from the stove and struck a defensive pose…It cowed [Sykes] and he did not strike her as he usually did” (2). Hurston’s juxtaposition of the words “ usually” and “struck” shows the normality of Sykes anger-infused harm towards Delia, and the abnormality of her standing up to Sykes, since she is a woman. This exemplifies Delia’s perseverance in her actions against her husband because she is no longer afraid of his physical abuse and she begins to threaten him. In “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” Janie is forced to marry a man she does not love and later, that forces her to do fieldwork. In her second marriage, she is constantly belittled because her husband does not believe that women are capable of many jobs. When Joe Starks, her second husband, is elected mayor, the town wants Janie to make a speech for Joe. But Joe jealously says, “Thank yuh fuh yo’ compliments, but mah wife don’t know nothin’ ’bout no speech-makin’. Ah never married her for nothin’ lak dat. She’s uh woman and her place is in de home” (). Joe said this comment to ensure the town

Each abuse was soley based on the imbalance of power between the man and woman in the relationship. However, the story, “Sweat” encompasses the theme that individuals can write their own destinies regardless of authority. In the narrative, Delia stands up to Sykes at a meal, causing Sykes to be in awe, “[He] almost let the huge wad of corn bread and collard greens he was chewing fall out of his mouth in amazement. He had a hard time whipping himself up to the proper fury to try to answer Delia” (). Sykes’ reaction exemplifies how Delia decided her own fate, nevertheless how low in social class she was to Sykes. It also highlights Delia’s assertiveness and how uncommon it was for her to make her own decisions and demands, showing character development and a dynamic shift. In the story, Delia’s place in society is automatically under Sykes because she is a woman. However, Sykes’ power soon comes back to bite him, when he was viscously attacked by the snake he bought to scare his wife. Delia considered helping Sykes by going to the doctor, however, “Orlando with its doctors was too far” (7). Therefore, “she waited in the growing heat [knowing] the [Jordan] river was creeping up…to extinguish [Sykes’] eye [of hope]” (7). The Jordan River is a biblical allusion to rebirth, renewal, and freedom after adversity, which reveals that the path of freedom she chose allows her to