“Sweat” by Zoe Neale Hurston Essay Example

In spite of Sykes' visible harshness and absence of compassion, Delia finds the courage within herself to endure his animosity and contempt towards her. She not only works relentlessly to ensure food provision but also handles domestic duties like cooking and cleaning.

Delia's husband Sykes exhibits his ingratitude by keeping a mistress, expressly stating his wishes to take over her home, and disparaging her thin physique. On one occasion, while Delia was engaged in laundering clothes for white individuals, Sykes intrudes and deliberately soils them further. This act prompts the first spark of anger within Delia. From this point onwards, she gradually shifts from being meek and agreeable to becoming inflamed with rage. "Hear me out, Sykes, you've crossed your limits. I have been wedded for fifteen years and I've been doing laundry throughout those years as well. It's nothing but continuous hard work!"

"Work and sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat”! (pg142) She attempts to explain her feelings about his lifestyle and treatment, but he appears oblivious to the issue. "She grabs the iron skillet from the stove and assumes a defensive stance." (pg. 142). That night, she contemplates her husband's words and reflects on how she has been treated by him. Out loud, she states, “Oh well, whatever goes over the devils back, is got to come under his belly. Sometime or ruther, Sykes, like everybody else, is gointer reap his sowing”. (pg. 143).

To steer clear of the whispers and speculation about Delia and her spouse, she chose to return home earlier than usual one day. When she arrived, Sykes drew her attention to a box on the

table. To Delia's astonishment and incredulity, it housed a rattlesnake. Sykes delighted in Delia's phobia of snakes and enjoyed seeing her terrified. Sensing danger from the rattlesnake's presence in her house, Delia confronted her husband and pleaded with him, "Syke, I want you to take that snake away from here."

"You done starved me an A put up widcher,you done beat me an Ah took dat but you done kilt all mah insides bringing dat varmint heah” (pg148). Sykes, described as evil, refuses to get rid of the snake and keeps it. One night, Sykes finds himself in a difficult situation when the snake tries to attack him. Desperately searching for light, he reaches into his pocket for the lighters, only to realize that he had used the last ones earlier that day with Bertha. The snake that Sykes intentionally brought into their house to scare and threaten Delia ends up attacking him instead.

Despite seeking help, he never received it as Delia simply stared and did nothing. Delia, who went above and beyond to satisfy her husband by cleaning, working, and cooking, received no reciprocation, only enduring beatings and threats from Sykes. Sykes, an evil man, desired to keep Delia's home and money so he could be with another woman, displaying no concern for Delia's well-being. Although Delia lacked empowerment, she didn't take any action against Sykes because karma eventually catches up to people, even when they least expect it. Sykes ultimately reaped what he sowed.