Although they are sometimes used interchangeably, the terms morals and ethics have different meanings. Ethics are codes for right or wrong coming from an external source such as society while morals are an individual’s personal principles on what is considered right or wrong. It is possible for someone to be following strict ethics but have no morals while a person with very high moral integrity may violate what is considered ethically right. In the three stories, there are moral and ethical issues that each leave the readers with different experiences yet they all sympathize with the virtuous characters who are imprisoned by societal ethics.
In the short story, “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston, Delia stays in an abusive marriage with Sykes despite being the sole breadwinner in the family. “Anything like flowers had long ago been drowned in the salty stream that had been pressed from her heart. Her tears, her sweat, her blood. She had brought love to the union and he had brought a longing after the flesh. Two months after the wedding, he had given her the first brutal beating” (Hurston 2). Sykes abuses her physically by beating her with the snake-shaped whip, emotionally by constantly putting her down due to her looks and economically by taking her earnings from her. Delia has built the home that they live in, she handles her family’s finances and is diligent enough to make it on her own. However, …show more content…
"Yeah, you just come from de church house on a Sunday night, but heah you is gone to work on them clothes. You ain't nothing but a hypocrite. One of them amencorner Christians--sing, whoop, and shout, then come home and wash white folks clothes on the Sabbath."(2)
She needs to make a living as she is the sole provider for her family. Her moral values place hard work above religious adherence since failure to go to work would translate into her being fired. Even when the weather is oppressive, she still goes to work in strict adherence to her work
In the short story, “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston, Delia stays in an abusive marriage with Sykes despite being the sole breadwinner in the family. “Anything like flowers had long ago been drowned in the salty stream that had been pressed from her heart. Her tears, her sweat, her blood. She had brought love to the union and he had brought a longing after the flesh. Two months after the wedding, he had given her the first brutal beating” (Hurston 2). Sykes abuses her physically by beating her with the snake-shaped whip, emotionally by constantly putting her down due to her looks and economically by taking her earnings from her. Delia has built the home that they live in, she handles her family’s finances and is diligent enough to make it on her own. However, …show more content…
"Yeah, you just come from de church house on a Sunday night, but heah you is gone to work on them clothes. You ain't nothing but a hypocrite. One of them amencorner Christians--sing, whoop, and shout, then come home and wash white folks clothes on the Sabbath."(2)
She needs to make a living as she is the sole provider for her family. Her moral values place hard work above religious adherence since failure to go to work would translate into her being fired. Even when the weather is oppressive, she still goes to work in strict adherence to her work