Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston Analysis
ntroduction:
Sweat is one of Zora Neale Hurston’s world-renowned short stories. As a famous American writer, Hurston is known for writing stories that depict real life as it was during the years when she wrote the stories. This story is about Delia Jones, an African American woman who has been in a strained marriage for fifteen years. The author uses her experiences to explain how oppression and physical abuse affected African American women of this period. In the end, Delia gets her revenge on her husband, Sykes for his mistreatment over the years.
Discussion:
From the beginning of the story, it is evident that Delia Jones is in a strained marriage and that her husband has no respect for her. The first encounter with this mistreatment is seen when he comes to the house late and scares her with a bullwhip, which looked like a snake. Sykes knows that Delia is afraid of snakes but goes on to frighten her with the whip, which looks like a snake. Sykes admits that he just wanted to scare her by saying, “Course I knowed! That’s how come Ah done it” (Hurston 26). He scared her intentionally and does not show any kind of remorse. When Delia attempts to
…show more content…
The message that this story is trying to pass across is purely based on oppression, infidelity and physical abuse in marriage. The book is written for a wide audience mainly targeting those in abusive marriages. It also explores what could be the results of these actions especially for a long-term relationship like marriage. In this book, Sykes’ actions prove to be fatal. The snake that he brought to scare his wife bites and kills him, a fate that could have been prevented if he had been good to his wife. If their marriage had been better, Delia would have warned Sykes about the snake and he would not have died. In the end, Delia gets her revenge when Sykes dies from the poisonous
Roles Of Women In Sweat And Their Eyes Were Watching God By Hurston
679 Words | 3 PagesWhen Syke begins disrespecting her by kicking her laundry with his dirty boots, she fights back , “seiz[ing] the iron skillet from the stove and [striking] a defensive pose, which act surprised him greatly, coming from her. It cowed him and he did not strike her as he usually did” (2). Her audacity defied the social standards of the time period: black women had no power over their husbands. Hurston challenges this social norm by creating a character that withstands gender roles and traditional power dynamics. By “[seizing] the iron skillet” and “[striking] a defensive pose” she proves to her abusive husband that she is not afraid of him or his threats.
Delphine Quotes
709 Words | 3 PagesThis also illustrates that she is ashamed to show her child personality, as although she thinks these thoughts and wants to do them, she holds her emotion back; this shows that she is either ashamed or maybe embarrassed. A major reason she does this is to look powerful, to protect her sisters which shows how valuable it is in helping to manage her responsibilities. Overall, Delphine is a interesting character, for the author shows her personality of a reliable girl, but the author also shows her other split side, the little girl who wants to, "Squeal and
What Is The Central Idea Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston
704 Words | 3 PagesIn Zora Neale Hurston’s short story “Sweat” and her essay “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” the African American social group is being represented in many ways. The texts have similar ways that African Americans are represented for the time period. The African Americans or “colored people” are represented in an aspect that comes from the author's point of view. The African Americans are represented as being unbothered, growing up in a closed community, playing the game with whites, and optimistic.
Analysis Of Zora Hurston's How It Feels To Be Colored Me
270 Words | 2 PagesZora Hurston uses vivid imagery, natural diction, and several literary tools in her essay “How It Feels to Be Colored Me”. Hurston’s use of imagery, diction, and literary tools in “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” contributes to, and also compliments, the essay’s theme which is her view on life as a “colored” person. Throughout “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” Hurston carefully incorporates aspects of her African American culture in an effort to recapture her ancestral past. Hurston’s use of imagery, diction, and use of literary tools shape her essay into a piece of Harlem Renaissance work. Imagery in “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” is quite abundant.
Theme Of Faith In Zora Neale Hurston's Sweat
96 Words | 1 PagesThe 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.
Sweat By Zora Neale Hurtson Summary
981 Words | 4 PagesAs Sykes Jones stated, “Ah done tole you time and again to keep the white folks’ clothes outa dis house,” (site) exemplifying Delia has grown accustomed to remaining silent in the face of abuse. It is on this day after a particularly bad scare and added abuse by being mocked for that fear that her character shifts. Delia’s remarkable transformation as a character from a meek abuse victim to a stronger, independent yet gentle woman occurs whenever Sykes mocks her for her fear of snakes or when there is a scene involving the rattlesnake. At the beginning of “Sweat” by Zora Neale
Analysis Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston
820 Words | 4 PagesIn the short story Sweat written by Zora Neale Hurston, she tells the story of a hard-working woman named Delia Jones and her abusive, cheating husband Sykes. Delia and Sykes are drastically different characters. Delia is an honest, church going woman, who cleans white people 's laundry to make ends meet and Skyes is a low-down womanizer who uses his wife 's income to support not only himself but also Bertha the woman he is having an affair with. After years of putting up with her husband 's mistreatment, Delia finally holds her ground. She defends her job with a skillet.
Zora Neale Hurston Obstacles
1992 Words | 8 PagesHurston and Janie both endured oppression during their lives based upon their race and gender however, their strong wills propelled them threw unforeseen obstacle. Zora Neale Hurston was a phenomenal African American woman whom despite her rough childhood would become one of the most profound authors of the century. Throughout her lifetime she was the, “Recipient of two Guggenheims and the author of four novels, a dozen short stories, two musicals, two books on black mythology, dozens of essays, and a prizewinning autobiography” (Gates 4). Hurston had to overcome numerous obstacles because of her gender, economic status, and racial identity. Hurston was born in 1891 in Notasulga, Alabama but grew up in Eatonville, Florida.
Critical Analysis Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston
1187 Words | 5 PagesDuring this rough time period, segregation was common and prohibition was recently introduced. Along with this, many other social and political issues played a role in Hurston's "Sweat." Consequently, a historical background of the early twentieth century would be ideal in order for the reader to better comprehend and appreciate the work thoroughly. In this story, Hurston writes about Delia and Syke's work lives. In the early 1900's, approximately sixty percent of African American woman and about twenty percent of men were employed (Mclaughlin).During this time period, men felt that they were vastly superior over women.
Character Analysis Of Delia Jones In Hurston's Sweat
387 Words | 2 PagesIn "Sweat," the main character, Delia Jones, is portrayed as a strong-willed, hard-working washwoman who would wash clothes for white people. She worked tireless to provide for her family. Delia was married to Sykes, who would berate, beat and mentally abuse Delia, incessantly. For example, Sykes would walk into the room where Delia just folded clothing for the white people and find the whitest pile of clothes, stomp all over them and then kick them across the room, leaving her to clean up and restack them. Sykes was also openly living in infidelity with another woman, named Bertha.
Comparing Story Of An Hour And Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston
1184 Words | 5 Pages(Hurston 532). She believes in karma, that whatever Sykes does will come back around to him. She is good and believes that in time good things will come to her. Also it is clearly seen in the story how dynamic Delia’s character is. In the beginning, Delia is scared of Sykes and is too afraid to stand up to him.
Sweat Hurston Character Analysis
1101 Words | 5 PagesName: Lakisha Minnis Instructor: Mr. Compton English 2202-001 Date: April. 24, 2017 Sweat Zora Neale Hurston is a prolific writer famed for numerous award winning plays, novels and short stories. In this paper, I will be elaborating on a character from the novel Sweat. Her novel Sweat was first published in 1926. Sweat is a novel that tells a story about the good, evil, and domestic abusive husband.
Zora Hurston Sweat Analysis
676 Words | 3 PagesBefore I began reading, I tried guessing what the story was about. Only knowing that the title was “Sweat”, I thought the story might be about sports or hard labor. Then I opened up the story and the first thing I noticed was that the author’s name was Zora Hurston. I only found out that the author was female once I saw “her” in the section below describing her life and writing career. I found out other important things such as she lived in Florida, she wrote during the Harlem Renaissance (1920s), she died impoverished, and her work was eventually found by the women’s movement.
Symbolism In Sweat
882 Words | 4 PagesSweat by Zora Neale Hurston displays countless acts of symbolism through imagery, it partially requires deeper knowledge and understanding. Religion has clearly played a predominant role in Hurston 's life, this is exemplified by the references to a snake and Gethsemane. The symbolism presented throughout the story has a significant impact and in the wake of evaluating it; they give the story more clout while justifying the true meaning behind the title, Sweat. The most obvious symbol in the story is the title. In the narrative it states, “Looka heah, Sykes, you done gone too fur.
Analysis Of The Gilded Six-Bits By Zora Neale Hurston
565 Words | 3 PagesZora Neale Hurston’s book, “The Gilded Six-Bits” is an important piece of literature due to its impact on the world during the Harlem Renaissance era. It is considered a brilliant piece of modernist literature due to Hurston staying true to her background and roots as a black woman from the south, in which segregation was still a huge issue. The reason why it is considered a piece of modernist literature is because she wasn’t afraid to write in the black vernacular which was considered uneducated as blacks were progressing in arts, literature, and the music was alive. The story is filled with many different themes and issues that people can relate to such as money, deceit, and for people who have a big heart forgiveness and reconciliation.
More about Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston Analysis
Roles Of Women In Sweat And Their Eyes Were Watching God By Hurston
679 Words | 3 PagesDelphine Quotes
709 Words | 3 PagesWhat Is The Central Idea Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston
704 Words | 3 PagesAnalysis Of Zora Hurston's How It Feels To Be Colored Me
270 Words | 2 PagesTheme Of Faith In Zora Neale Hurston's Sweat
96 Words | 1 PagesSweat By Zora Neale Hurtson Summary
981 Words | 4 PagesAnalysis Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston
820 Words | 4 PagesZora Neale Hurston Obstacles
1992 Words | 8 PagesCritical Analysis Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston
1187 Words | 5 PagesCharacter Analysis Of Delia Jones In Hurston's Sweat
387 Words | 2 PagesComparing Story Of An Hour And Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston
1184 Words | 5 PagesSweat Hurston Character Analysis
1101 Words | 5 PagesZora Hurston Sweat Analysis
676 Words | 3 PagesSymbolism In Sweat
882 Words | 4 PagesAnalysis Of The Gilded Six-Bits By Zora Neale Hurston
565 Words | 3 Pages