Essay On Delia Jones In Zora Neale Hurston's Sweat

The Sweat of Delia

Many people have had to sweat and work hard over their lifetime, but none have worked as hard as Delia Jones. Delia Jones is a character in Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat”. Delia is a dutiful housewife that will stand by her man until death do them part. Delia Jones is characterized as a hardworking, faithful, and hopeful Christian woman who put up with a lot of abuse from her husband.

In the story, Delia Jones is the hardworking bread winner for her household, despite the fact that her husband claims to make all of the money to sustain the household. “Ah been takin’ in washin’ for fifteen years. Sweat, sweat, sweat. Work and sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat” (Hurston 2). Delia constantly worked her butt off to provide food and shelter for her and her husband, Sykes. “Mah tub of subs is filled yo’ belly with vittles more times than yo’ hands is filled it. Mah sweat is done paid for this house and Ah rechon Ah kin keep on sweatin’ in it” (Hurston 2). Sykes despised the fact that his wife washed linens for the “white folks”, but that is the only way she, Delia can provide for her household. “Ah done

Delia was brutally beaten by her husband, Sykes on two months after they said, “I do”. “[Delia] had memories of [Sykes] numerous trips to Orlando with all of his wages when he had returned to her penniless even before the first year had passed” (Hurston 2-3). Through both of these events, Delia stood by Sykes, because of the vowels that she took on her wedding day. Delia refused to leave the house so that Sykes could move his mistress, Bertha into the house. “You aint paid for nothin’ on this place, and Ah’m gointer stay right heah till Ah’m toted out foot foremost” (Hurston 2). Delia is a strong and faithful woman that can put up with a lot of things, until it comes to her house that she has worked