Zora Neale Hurston Sweat Summary

Feminist View on Delia Jones in Zora Neale Hurston “Sweat”

In the short story by Zora Neale Hurston called "Sweat" a woman named Delia is in a very toxic marriage, both physically and mentally. Her husband,Sykes, has been mistreating her and when he leaves for work, he is going to be with another women. Although Delia loves her husband very much, yet she is struggling with her burdensome marriage. After 15 years of marriage, the abuse she is dealing have not made her fall off. Delia continues to remain happy and is focusing on living her life. With that being said, her religious belief and outstanding work has been the main cause for that. Throughout the story, Delia actions shows that symbolism and religious beliefs. They are utilized from the way she is handling things. Over time she put all of her faith in GOD.

The representation symbol furnish of literacy work.

Zora Neale Hurston's work had plenty of issues, one in which contains of African American people. Race and gender has interacted tremendously with religion. According to the "Preeminence of American Protestantism", "[…and] [n]owhere was this upheaval felt more acutely—as both an opportunity and a cause for anxiety—than among African Americans”. This showed that many americans eventually started to write about how the did or can come out of slavery. The diverse of symbolism conveyed of feminism. It did this through Delia Jones's actions in which where they we both religious and symbolic. Later being from a masculine point of view concerning labour, slave relation and the soul. As stated by Scholar Gordon E.

Thompson:

"the snake—especially in Sykes‟ absence—serves as a substitute for and reflection
of Sykes, further defining the nature of his character. Delia‟s attitude toward the
snake resembles her attitude toward Sykes; Sykes‟ manipulation of the snake and
his bravado suggest—in the context of the story—that handling snakes is a male
Privilege."
Delia attitude and action was just like the symbol of Sykes and snake combined. She felt as if he husband Sykes acted like a snake towards her. Someone that cared so little about her. The strength of slavery/master came out to help Delia. Sykes entered a phase in which states:

"Just then something long, round, limp, and black fell upon her shoulders and
slithered to the floor beside her. A great terror took hold of her. It softened her
knees and dried her mouth so that it was a full minute before she could cry out or
move. Then she saw that it was the big bull whip her husband liked to carry when
he drove."
The initial to the understanding of this is that, you have to understand Delia,s life in a positive point of view. The word “limp” in this short story is understood in a masculine view. Sykes is that masculine view that is pointed out. He appears to be black and very tall. He also force her to do everything he wants. This caused Delia's to be very frightened of this man so she continues to treat him like he is God of GODs because she is very afraid. Every time her husband is in the presence of her she feels that she is nothing. Meaning she is never hungry around him and exhausted because of the emotions that her husband send off as he is near her.  But she cannot overcome his perverted ways because of the relationship they have. Instead she just deal with it for however long he wants but she is also getting help from GOD to help her fight this battle.
The database that i’ve used was JSTOR. It is under review, titling The Zora Neale Hurston play at the library of Congress. The information that i will be getting is on her ways that she overcame with being in a toxic relationship.