Essay about Sweat Harlem Renaissance and Delia - 995 Words

Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston Zora Neale Hurston is a remarkable author who reflects her life in most of her novels, short stories, and her essays. She was a writer during the Harlem Renaissance, also known as â€Å"the new negro movement†, however; her writings were not given proper recognition at first because they were not of the â€Å"norm† for that time period. All of the authors during the Harlem Renaissance were expected to write about race with a political mind set. Hurston was tired of seeing the same writings just different authors so her literary works were very different and were meant to stand out (Trudell). Among all of her abstracts, Sweat was a story of determination and oppression, with religion and strength as the backbone of†¦show more content†¦He flaunted his mistress around the town so bluntly as to show that he cared nothing about Delia or their marriage. He was the worst husband possible and did everything he could to disrespect and belittle his wife In reading the story it is easy to see that Sykes becomes somewhat jealous of Delia. At first, he did all that he could to win Delia’s heart and keep it. As said by Walter Thomas, one of the minor characters in the story, â€Å"he useter be so skeered uh losin’ huh, she could make him do some parts of a husband’s duty† (Hurston 4). Yet somehow, Sykes falls out of love with Delia early in their marriage and that’s when his oppression over her began. He not only wears her down by beating her and ultimately changing her appearance, he also abuses her mentally. He resented not only the fact that Delia was the only one of the two that was financially stable within the household, but he mostly resented her job and the reality that she was comfortable with washing clothes for the â€Å"white folks†. Time and time again he tried everything in his power to make sure she didn’t finish her days work as a wash woman. For example he shows his disgu st with her job when he comes home in the beginning of the story an sees his wife working, â€Å"he stepped roughly upon the whitest pile of things, kicking them helter-skelter as he crossed the room† (Hurston). He blatantly disrespects her and sends the message that no matter what heShow MoreRelated Theme of Good vs. Evil in â€Å"Sweat† Essay1213 Words   |  5 PagesThe main character in Zora Neale Hurston’s â€Å"Sweat† is a black woman who resides in the South that clutches on to her belief in God to help her get through the suffering that she endures from her abusive and adulterous husband, Sykes. â€Å"Sweat† is full of religious symbolism that demonstrates that Hurston was using the theme of good vs. evil in the short story. In the very beginning of â€Å"Sweat† one can see that Delia possesses a very strong work ethic, by the way that she is working vigorously toRead MoreAnalysis Of Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston1544 Words   |  7 Pageswomen were looked at as submissive and did not have many rights. She gave women a voice. Zora Neale Hurston is a remarkable author who reflects her life in most of her writing. She was a writer during the Harlem Renaissance Era. After much success, she was acknowledged as â€Å"Queen of the Harlem Renaissance.† Her literary work was not given proper recognition in the beginning because she chose to write things in a different perspective than the normal political mindset dealing with race. Hurston exploredRead MoreSpunk Play Review1400 Words   |  6 PagesTrue Color Theatre Company’s production of Spunk: Three Tales by Zora Neale Hurston at the 14th Street Playhouse on September 25, 2013, presented the audience with a very culturally embellished ve rsion of Hurston’s original three tales: â€Å"Sweat,† â€Å"Story in Harlem Slang,† and â€Å"The Gilded Six Bits.† Zora Neale Hurston strived to portray the reality of life as an African American in the early 1900s through native dialect in her short stories and novels. Her most notable production, Their Eyes Were WatchingRead MoreZora Neale Hurston s Poem, Sweat, A Story2069 Words   |  9 Pagesof her mother. The event of her mother’s death rocked the foundation of Hurston’s family and she soon ventured out on her own. Hurston’s writing career began after she moved to Harlem. While there she co-founded the magazine â€Å"Fire!!†, which contained her first play, â€Å"Color Struck† and one of her first short stories, â€Å"Sweat, A Story†. Through her writing Hurston was able to explore the concept of colorism and Black womanhood that other authors in the magazine may have glossed over. By doing this HurstonRe ad MoreThe Concept Of Inherited Conflict In James Baldwin Go Tell It On The Mountain1203 Words   |  5 Pagesplayed a major role during the Harlem Renaissance onward. Beginning with the magazine, Fire!! to the novel written by James Baldwin, Go Tell it on the Mountain. This paper will examine the idea of Inherited Conflict through the magazine as well as the novel. It will examine the idea of isolation within the black community and how it effects the characters within the stories. Fire!! The magazine, Fire!! a variety of stories including; Smoke, Lilies and Jade and Sweat. It also had three drawings thatRead MoreMarxism And Feminism In Sweat By Zora Neal Hurston949 Words   |  4 Pagesproperty. Starting from the Harlem Renaissance the Hurston’s work focuses on issues presenting on the turmoil of African-Americans from American literature in the nineteenth century on. Zora Neal Hurston’s work entitled â€Å"Sweat† is a prime example of how culture is affected by its cultures standards of economic â€Å"base†. The story was published in 1926 during a time of trial and error considering the obstacles that faced many female authors at the time. Hurston’s story â€Å"Sweat† overlaps with her novel â€Å"TheirRead MoreWomen Empowerment : Work, Sweat, Pray1778 Words   |  8 Pages Women Empowerment: Work, Sweat, Pray Zora Neale Hurston was one of many authors who left an impact on society, particularly black America. Hurston is a remarkable author who reflects her life in most of her writings. She was a writer during the Harlem Renaissance Era. After much success, she was acknowledged as â€Å"Queen of the Harlem Renaissance,† yet her literary work was not given proper recognition in the beginning because she chose to write things in a different perspectiveRead More`` Sweat `` By Zora Neale Hurston1274 Words   |  6 PagesNora Neale Hurston’s â€Å"Sweat† evokes the meaning of sacrificing all means of happiness to survive. With its analogies that depicts biblical connotations and Southern African- American origins, â€Å"Sweat† introduces problems within the African American community. This Harlem Renaissance literature dictates a young, black woman who has been deprived of her youth; she is forced to be the provider, and she is subjected to a loveless marriage. Del ia, the unfortunate soul, is neglected by her husband, whoRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance By Zora Neale Hurston1896 Words   |  8 Pages Personal Identity The Harlem Renaissance was a period from the end of World War I through the middle of the Great Depression, during which a group of talented African-American writers produced a body of poetry, fiction, drama, and essays. Zora Neale Hurston is considered to be one of the most influential contributors to the Harlem Renaissance period. Hourston grew up in this culturally affirming setting due to her father’s mentality, despite frequent confrontations with her preacher-father, sheRead MoreSweat, By Zora Neale Hurston1776 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"Sweat,† a short story written by Zora Neale Hurston depicts the story of Delia, a washerwoman who is physically and mentally abused by her husband, Sykes. As Hurston explains, Delia is a strong, hardworking, calm, brave, and understanding woman who is able to stand with her head held high even through all the troubles she endures. In contrast, Sykes is abusive, a coward, troubleshooter and a man who depends on his wife to provide for him. He even has the indecency to use Delia’s money to pay for