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Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston Analysis

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In the short story "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston the main character, Delia Jones, is an exhausted black woman. Delia works hard to support her adulterous husband and herself by working for white folk' as a wash woman. During this time period women are designated house wives and men were supposed to be the providers. Throughout the story the readers can see that black women have no power and are transparent to society and to their husbands. The theme for "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston is marriage.
Delia has been married to her husband Sykes for 15 years; she received her first beating two months after they married. The reader my question 'why she hasn’t left him after being beaten for 15 years'? The answer to this is simply because leaving your husband is considered taboo in society during that time. So, instead she takes his beatings because that is how a woman shows she is a good wife. If he gets upset enough to beat her, she obviously provoked him. "Well, you better quit gittin' me riled …show more content…
In the story Sykes demands she stop bringing white folks' clothes in his house. It is very ironic that Sykes is unemployed and is trying to tell his overworked wife how she can and cannot provide for them. She financially supports her husband because he is not responsible enough to take care of them. This is probably not a life Delia dreamed of having with Sykes but this is the reality of her marriage. It is clear that she can live without him but society does not see it that way. The author mentions several times how Delia pays for everything. So not only is he unemployed, he also does not pay any bills. Little does he know if Delia were to stop washing clothes they would both be on the street. Although, this may not affect Sykes the same way is affects Delia because he would just go live with his

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