Sweat

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1926

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Summary

Background

Story Analysis

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Symbols & Motifs

Sweat

The story’s title word is repeated throughout the story. The common understanding of sweat as a product of hard labor plays into the broader theme about work and the results of that effort. Delia earns her livelihood, and Sykes’s, by the proverbial sweat of her brow. Sweat also symbolizes Sykes’s neglect and Delia’s standing in, or sympathy from, the community. When Sykes flirtatiously offers another man’s wife some pecans from the yard, the woman turns them down and remarks that “Delia works so hard ovah that washtub she reckon everything on de place taste lak sweat an’ soapsuds” (Paragraph 36). Although the sweat of work is righteous and gives Delia ownership of her things, the story also makes clear that Delia’s is too much. She has to work much harder, and suffer much more, than any woman really should.

The Rattlesnake

Some anthropologists speculate that a fear of snakes is instinctual in humans due to the threat they posed to our ancestors. In this story, however, the rattlesnake serves several other symbolic roles.

Snakes are symbols of death and danger in many cultures throughout the world. Particularly in Western culture, the snake is a longstanding symbol of evil, owing to its appearance in the Bible’s Book of Genesis. Because Delia is a churchgoing Christian, this connection is very direct. Though Delia does not harbor any superstitious belief that the snake really is a demon or devil, she regularly refers to it as such. The snake thus represents the threat of harm, evil, or cruel intent, as well as betrayal. All these traits are reflected in Sykes’s actions against Delia.

In some cultures, snakes are a symbol of protection. This may stem from the fact that some snakes are territorial and will defend their space—including rattlesnakes, the specific species named in this story. Although the snake threatens Delia, it also reflects her, as throughout the story she too “rears up” to defend herself and her home. In other cultures, snakes represent rebirth or renewal. In “Sweat,” the snake rids Delia of her abusive husband at the story’s close, allowing Delia a new start or rebirth into independence.

Washing/Cleansing

Delia’s work as a washerwoman is a core character trait that also carries some symbolism. Her many years of washing have failed to cleanse the suffering from her life. When she rises to defend her work, the act of cleansing becomes more painful and difficult, and yet she is working toward purging her home of violence and exploitation.

The Home

The home is the physical site of conflict between Delia and Sykes, and their disputes within and about the house reflect the fissures in their failed marriage. Delia especially feels a deep connection to the house, which is furnished and maintained with the money she earns through work, whereas Sykes’s claim to the house is based more in entitlement. Thus, the home also serves as the metaphorical site of their conflict over control, rights, and power in their relationship.