What does the snake symbolize in sweat?
What does the snake symbolize in sweat?
Hurston presents the snake in “Sweat” as a representation of evil. Because the snake represents evil in this story, it is closely linked with Sykes, who is an abusive man. The bullwhip Sykes tosses onto Delia resembles a snake. Later he brings a rattlesnake to his house to terrorize his wife.
What happens to Sykes at the end of sweat?
Sykes bring a snake into the house, hoping to scare Delia out. She finds it in the laundry basket and runs away in fright. That night, Sykes gets bitten by the snake. He dies, and Delia is free.
How is Sykes characterized in this section of the story?
How is Sykes characterized in this section of the story? Sykes’ first action in the story is scaring Delia with his whip, which we quickly learn is not a playful prank but a mean-spirited action. He proceeds to taunt and provoke Delia, despite the fact that she works to support them while he is out with another woman.
What is the theme of sweat by Zora Neale Hurston?
“Sweat” tells the story of a domestically abused, religiously devout laundress and her adulterous, deadbeat husband. The dominant theme is good versus evil, but the story also incorporates the themes of hard work versus laziness and fate.
Why does Sykes call Delia a hypocrite?
Hover for more information. Delia’s husband, Sykes, considers her to be a hypocrite because she is working on Sunday. Sykes reveals his attitude about Delia’s “hypocrisy” in the story’s exposition . After she reorganizes the clothes that he has disturbed, Delia goes back to washing them.
Why is the story called sweat?
The story’s title “Sweat” refers to all the physical labor that Delia performs, which contrasts with Sykes’ life of leisure and entitlement.
Why do you think Delia stays with Sykes after he has been so abusive towards her?
Delia probably stays with Sykes after he has been so abusive to her because within that time period women did not typically divorce their husbands. She also has a personality that suggests that she upholds commitments and will bear through difficult times.
What animal is Delia deathly afraid of?
snakes
Who is Bertha in sweat?
Bertha is Sykes’ mistress from another town. She comes to live in a boarding house that he pays for. Most of the men of the town dislike Bertha and consider her ugly, but Sykes prefers her over Delia. Joe owns the village store and has the respect of the neighbors who spend time on his porch.
How does Delia feel about Bertha?
Which of the following best describes Delia’s feelings toward Bertha? Delia believes she can win Bertha’s sympathy by pretending to be blind and deaf. Delia has no desire to engage with Bertha and does not care to hear the village gossip. Delia envies Bertha because Bertha does not need to work for her own living.
On which day of the week did Delia both pick up and drop off laundry?
Delia Jones would have been in bed for two hours by this time. But she was a wash-woman, and Monday morning meant a great deal to her. So she collected the soiled clothes on Saturday when she returned the clean things.
Is Delia right to let Sykes die at the end of the story?
The impetus for Delia’s decision is really a compilation of years of abuse from Sykes. His cheating, his disregard for her feelings, his misuse of her hard-earned money, and his condescension toward her all contribute to Delia’s allowing Sykes to die.
How does the author’s decision to open with the bull whip scene contribute to the overall meaning of the story sweat?
The scene with the bull-whip is important as it tells us a lot about Delia’s abusive relationship with Sykes. It also gives us an insight into Delia’s tenacity as a woman, and how she’s not prepared to let anyone drive her out of her own home. So once could see the bull-whip scene as foreshadowing this event.
How does the author’s characterization of Bertha?
The author describes Bertha through the gossip of other villagers, who shield Delia from information that they know would hurt her. By describing only Bertha’s negative characteristics, the author hints at Delia’s confidence in her own desirability as a wife.
What is the conflict in sweat?
The conflict in “Sweat” is between Delia and her abusive, adulterous husband, Sykes. The conflict starts when Delia decides to stand up for herself for the first time. The action begins when Sykes lays a bullwhip across Delia’s shoulders to scare her.
How is foreshadowing used in the short story sweat by Zora Neale Hurston?
Foreshadowing: Delia after almost being beaten said “Oh well, whatever goes over the Devil’s back, is got to come under his belly. ” resembling that Sykes was going to get what was coming to him.
What is the tone of the story sweat?
Tone and Mood The tone is distinguished by a contrast between the narrator’s conventionally elegant lyricism and the vivid African-American vernacular speech of the characters. The story has a lethargic, oppressive mood, suggested by the extreme heat.
How does Sykes react when he realizes Delia seen him out with Bertha?
How does Syke’s react when he spots Delia knowing shes seen him and Bertha together in public? Sykes is happy and hopeful that Delia saw him and Bertha together.
What does the phrase she knew the cold river was creeping up and up to extinguish that eye reveal about Sykes at the end of the story?
When she stated the phrase “she knew the cold river was creeping up and up to extinguish that eye” he was revealing that Sykes was dying. He did this by using a cold river to symbolize Death and which would extinguish the eye which was a metaphor for his life.
Is Delia a dynamic or static character?
Delia feels “A surge of pity too strong to support”(Hurston). Throughout the story, Delia’s feelings towards Sykes change, and therefore, she is a dynamic character.
What do you think causes Sykes to behave the way he does?
Perhaps his father acted the same way, and Sykes just thought that this was the normal way for a man to behave. Abusive men like Sykes often have backgrounds like this, when abuse—be it physical, mental, or sexual—was very much the norm. Or perhaps Sykes had negative experiences of women when he was growing up.
What emotional state does Delia experience after discovering the snake?
After Delia discovers the snake in her laundry basket, she experiences “A period of introspection, a space of retrospection, then a mixture of both.
How does Sykes exert control over Delia?
Sykes pushes further by getting a snake and attempting to scare Delia into submission, her fear controlling her rather than Sykes. As Delia begins to understand that Sykes will not protect her from the snake, she has no choice but to face her fears head on.
How does Sykes feel about Delia and her work quizlet?
How does Sykes feel about Delia and her work? He disapproves of her work and treats her with malice. Why has Delia worked as a wash-woman for the last fifteen years? She supports both herself and her husband financially.
How does Delia change in sweat?
How and why does Delia Jones change throughout the story Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston? The primary change that Delia Jones undergoes is from wife to widow. This change of status results from her decision to allow her husband to die from a snakebite rather than try to save him.
What is the significance of Delia being a Washwoman?
In her short story “Sweat,” Zora Neale Hurston decided to make Delia a washerwoman to illustrate just how miserable and harsh her life is and has been. Her job is a metaphor for the abuse that she receives from her ruthless and unfaithful husband, Sykes.
Do you think Delia is a weak or strong character?
Delia Jones is a weak protagonist who goes through unfortunate events with her husband to emerge as a strong protagonist in the end of the story “Sweat”. Delia starts off emotionally weak at the beginning of the story because she cannot stand up for herself, especially around her husband Sykes.
Do you think Delia is a meek or strong character Why or why not?
It seems that Delia, a “habitually meek” character, as is stated in the story, has endured years of domestic abuse from her husband, Sykes. She works tirelessly to take care of the family, with little, if any, input from him, and instead of being appreciative of her efforts, he beats and bullies her without end.