A Formalistic Analysis of Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” Zora Neal Hurston’s, “Sweat”, is the story of a hardworking, humble laundress named Delia and the conflict she faces with her abusive, philandering husband Sykes. The two central characters, Delia and Sykes, play out roles which spin off of each other and reflect each other’s actions. Through use of visual images and patterns early on in the story, Hurston creates a stage to foreshadow scenes throughout the storyline with a nearly mirrorlike effect, giving depth to the story with its centrifugal force. The story begins late in the evening hours with Delia industriously sorting laundry on the floor of the home she has paid for by the sweat of her brow. “Just then something long, round, limp and black fell upon her shoulders and slithered to the floor beside her” (Hurston). It is a bullwhip, a practical joke gone too far. Yet in a quick moment it causes absolute fear. The physical manifestation of Delia’s fears for her marriage, Sykes violence and philandering, have snaked their way between the two of them and will eventually destroy their relationship. Instead of …show more content…
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...lia Jones endured fifteen years of violence, disrespect, and infidelity, and only in those last few months was she able to muster some form of resistance. Until Sykes threatened all that she had, her home and her job, she was content enough just sweating it out. However, Sykes made that grave mistake on his own accord, and when leaving Delia with nothing to lose, he found that he had set himself up for a losing battle. Delia had surrendered to him in all those years, but Sykes had finally found a way to bring out the worst in his wife, and her aggression was finally realized by defending all that she had. After such pain and endurance, one can easily recognize how Delia Jones played the lead role in a short story called "Sweat."
... Book 2002. 2002 edition. Volume 11. Chicago, IL: World book inc., 2002. Page344. Print.
"Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston is filled with symbolism ranging from images that are easily captured to things that require a little bit more insight. Religion has apparently played a major role in Hurston's life, readily seen in "Sweat" with the references to a snake and Gethsemane. Symbolism plays a big part of this story and after analyzing these, they give the story a deeper meaning and can enlighten the reader as to the full meaning of "Sweat".
Dust Tracks on a Road is an autobiography written by Zora Neale Hurston. This novel traces all the way back to the beginning of Zora Neale Hurston's life in, Eatonville, Florida. Hurston informs her readers of the many trials she had to face in her life to become who she is today, even though she is no longer here on Earth, by using many effective, but simple writing skills.
While Delia has been working all night long; the man of the house arrives and does not acknowledge her exceptionally done work. Instead, he torments her about the fact she’s working on a Sabbath and calls her a hypocrite. He expects her to maintain him and treat him like her overlord.
It was so much neater than a number of bundles lying around.” (Hurston 731). This quote shows that Delia is the clothes that are in the hamper because it is neater than the other bundles. We see that neatness being disrupted from the mess when Sykes antagonizes Delia because of her work. Hurston, yet again, breaks another gender role stereotype and shows that Sykes, the “man” of the relationship, is immature and most likely provides nothing to their relationship.
Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” is a distressing tale of human struggle as it relates to women. The story commences with a hardworking black washwoman named Delia contently and peacefully folds laundry in her quiet home. Her placidity doesn’t last long when her abusive husband, Sykes, emerges just in time to put her back in her ill-treated place. Delia has been taken by this abuse for some fifteen years. She has lived with relentless beatings, adultery, even six-foot long venomous snakes put in places she requires to get to. Her husband’s vindictive acts of torment and the way he has selfishly utilized her can only be defined as malignant. In the end of this leaves the hardworking woman no choice but to make the most arduous decision of her life. That is, to either stand up for herself and let her husband expire or to continue to serve as a victim. "Sweat,” reflects the plight of women during the 1920s through 30s, as the African American culture was undergoing a shift in domestic dynamics. In times of slavery, women generally led African American families and assumed the role as the adherent of the family, taking up domestic responsibilities. On the other hand, the males, slaves at the time, were emasculated by their obligations and treatment by white masters. Emancipation and Reconstruction brought change to these dynamics as African American men commenced working at paying jobs and women were abandoned at home. African American women were assimilated only on the most superficial of calibers into a subcategory of human existence defined by gender-predicated discrimination. (Chambliss) In accordance to this story, Delia was the bread victor fortifying herself and Sykes. Zora Neale Hurston’s 1926 “Sweat” demonstrates the vigor as wel...
Delia is a hard-working woman who is very obedient and faithful to her husband, Sykes. Through harsh words, he cuts her down about her work of washing white folks clothes and her looks saying that he 'hates skinny woman';. Delia's appearance resembles her hard work, with 'knuckly hands'; from using the washboard. Delia has put many hard- earned tears, blood, and sweat into her house while supporting Sykes' habits and taking all the abuse he could dish out. On many occasions Sykes has cut down Delia and her kind nature, even to her religious beliefs, accusing her of being a 'hipocrite'; because she worked on the Sabbath day.
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stories holds a large impact on how they later develop as individuals. While Baldwin’s piece demonstrates the ignorance from society which is projected onto him from Swiss villagers, it shares both similarities and differences to the attitudes demonstrated in Hurston’s piece influenced by her surroundings. Being that it is difficult to escape the past and the events that have brought strength through triumph, it is important to focus one’s attention on the present and into the future. Although the past determines who an individual is, the future determines who an individual will become.
In Hurston 's short story “Sweat”, the theme is expressed in many ways throughout the story, though most prominently by way of domestic violence and ungratefulness shown
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