Introduction
Sweat sheds light on the challenges encountered by minority women who were subjected to discrimination in both society and marriage. Hurston powerfully depicts the repressive circumstances suffered by minorities in America via the experiences of her heroine, Delia Jones, and stresses the need to resolve these concerns. The author employs symbolism, characters, and setting to expose the harsh reality of racial discrimination and stereotypical gender roles.
Symbolism of the Snake: Racism as a Constant Threat
Delia’s house being invaded by a white and yellow snake is a crucial symbol in the narrative. African Americans have been terrorized and preyed upon by a white supremacist system, which the snake reflects. Its endurance is a representation of racism’s pervasiveness in society, a constant menace that minority groups must constantly contend with. The poisonous sting is also a metaphor for the destructive results of racism. This is more than just a stand-in for the problem stated. It also highlights the mental anguish that minorities face as a direct effect of racism (Bere and Arianto 253).
Delia Jones: Strength and Resilience Amid Gender Oppression
Delia’s persistent worry about the snake represents the hypervigilance that disadvantaged people must always maintain. The fact that it entered Delia’s house exemplifies the constant threat of violence and intrusion that minorities confront. This propensity to threaten her tranquility and safety exemplifies how racism permeates every part of a person’s life. The depth and complexity of the problems experienced by minorities during that age are clearly shown by the author’s outstanding literary technique.
Throughout the narration, Hurston examines the gender roles that oppressed females are expected to fulfill via her characters’ actions. Delia, the protagonist, is a strong, hardworking woman who exemplifies the tenacity and will of women from marginalized communities. The oppressive and humiliating patriarchal culture they inhabit is personified by Sykes, her violent husband (Bere and Arianto 255). Sykes’s recurrent abuse of Delia, his infidelity, and his attempts to humiliate her are all reflective of wider societal ideas on women of color. Hurston challenges the stereotypical stereotypes of minority women by emphasizing Delia’s strength of character as she rises above adversity and forges a road to independence.
Setting and Social Context: Economic and Racial Marginalization
The location of Sweat is significant because it reveals the historical treatment of blacks in the United States. African Americans’ marginalization and resource scarcity are represented by the rural Florida setting. The protagonist’s dilapidated cottage represents her suffocation and the unfairness to which he is subjected (Hurston).
Delia’s situation, where she must wash the clothes of wealthy whites, is representative of the economic disparity and lack of opportunity that people of color confront in society. In light of decades of oppression, it is instructive that black people in the United States felt the need to form their own religion. The author’s use of history to argue for the need for social change and the elimination of persecution of minority groups is effective.
Conclusion
Sweat digs fascinatingly into the lives of minorities in the United States when it was published. Hurston demonstrates the double bind of racism and sexism experienced by women of color via her use of symbolism, characterization, location, and an understanding of intersectionality. If you want to take action for social justice and equality, read this story. This article is still relevant because it shows how long it has been since women of color in the United States fought for fundamental human rights.
Works Cited
Bere, Noviana and Tomi Arianto. “Woman Violence and Resistance in “Sweat” Shot Story by Zora Neale Hurston: Feminist Approach.” Jurnal Basis, vol. 6, no. 2., 2019, pp. 249–257. Web.
Hurston, Zora. Sweat. Oxford University Press, 1992. Biblioklept. Web.