Symbolism In Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston

“Sweat”, a story written by Zora Neale Hurston, demonstrates how a washer woman named Delia shows strong female empowerment, and overcomes the abuse of her husband. Written in the 1920s, this story takes place in central Florida, near Orlando. Symbolism is the most significant factor to understanding the story. The title “Sweat” is the most apparent symbol in the piece of literature, the snake is another, as well as the chinaberry tree. These three symbols all represent a selection of meanings and themes such as empowerment, survival, and domestic abuse. Zora Neale Hurston writes about hard work, evil, and freedom all together by incorporating them as different symbols used to describe the story, and used to describe Delia.
Zora Neale Hurston …show more content…
As much as Sykes shows disapproval towards her job, she still carries on as she is expected to pay many bills, and a mortgage that she owns. The author, Zora Neale Hurston, explains how tired and unhappy Delia is with the way things work, and how things are being done at her house. Readers can automatically tell how she is feeling as you read through the story. Besides everything she is being put through, she is still content because she knows that the wrong Sykes is doing to her will come back at him. She says, “oh well, whatever goes over the Devil’s back, is got to come under his belly” (Hurston …show more content…
She is viewed as a round character, with a variety of emotions and actions to demonstrate her several different positions in the story. In a certain scene, Hurston gives Delia Jones the characteristic of bravery when Delia says, "Ah oughter mash you in yo’ mouf fuh drawing dat skillet on me” (Hurston 623), towards Sykes, who holds a greater physical presence. Her willingness to stand up against Sykes shows how courageous she is. Later on during the story, Delia changes emotions and becomes frightened by the rattle snake Sykes brings to the house. These are two attributes that we see Delia represent, but are not the only ones. Pity is another one that Delia shows towards the end of the story when her husband Sykes gets bitten by the snake and begins crying out in pain. She feels, "A surge of pity too strong to support" (Hurston 629). In the story, Delia's feelings towards Sykes change, making her a dynamic character. For example, when the story starts off Delia tries to avoid causing any conflict with Sykes after he scares her. She just walks past him looking away and not paying attention, like if nothing is happening, and continues with her work. Later in the dispute, Delia grabs a skillet to defend herself against her harmful husband Sykes, as mentioned before, showing she is ready to confront him. A critic observes that, "Delia develops from a meek woman who acquiesces to Sykes's abuse to one who defends

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