Throughout the Harlem Renaissance time period, many black Americans struggled to make ends meet and live a fulfilling life. Most black Americans were poor and unhappy, while few had the luxury of working and living among white Americans – often rejecting their identity as a black person. In addition, many poor black Americans hid their frustration and/or depression by appearing to be satisfied through smiles and singing. In Zora Neal Hurston’s “Sweat,” Delia Jones hides her frustration about her unfaithful husband, Sykes, and the hard work she must do with smiles, songs, and an overall contempt tone – even when presently angry. Hurston discusses the advances about blackness and the African American culture by presenting a black woman who has
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Having a black woman as the only provider is an advance in African American culture because, stereotypically, a man is the provider for the family; however, Hurston gets rid of this stereotype in “Sweat” and makes Delia the only provider. She works hard as Hurston describes her features as being worn and sagging. Additionally, Hurston also speaks on how often she works. “The week was full of work for Delia as all other weeks, and Saturday found her behind her little pony, collecting and delivering clothes” (Hurston 3). Again, someone from the town spoke about how hard Delia worked: “…cause Delia works so hard ovah dat washtub she reckon everything on de place taste lak sweat an’ soapsuds” (Hurston 4). Delia works so incredibly hard that people envision her home to smell like her sweat and soapsuds from all of the washing she does. Furthermore, Sykes is able to use the money she earns for his own gain. He constantly pays for things for his lover, Bertha, telling her that she can get “whutsoever [her] heart desires” (Hurston 4) and going as far as to pay for the rent for her room (Hurston 5). Sykes does not work for this money, nor does he have some hidden savings; he leeches off of his own hardworking wife to do what he pleases for not only himself, but Bertha as
Having a black woman as the only provider is an advance in African American culture because, stereotypically, a man is the provider for the family; however, Hurston gets rid of this stereotype in “Sweat” and makes Delia the only provider. She works hard as Hurston describes her features as being worn and sagging. Additionally, Hurston also speaks on how often she works. “The week was full of work for Delia as all other weeks, and Saturday found her behind her little pony, collecting and delivering clothes” (Hurston 3). Again, someone from the town spoke about how hard Delia worked: “…cause Delia works so hard ovah dat washtub she reckon everything on de place taste lak sweat an’ soapsuds” (Hurston 4). Delia works so incredibly hard that people envision her home to smell like her sweat and soapsuds from all of the washing she does. Furthermore, Sykes is able to use the money she earns for his own gain. He constantly pays for things for his lover, Bertha, telling her that she can get “whutsoever [her] heart desires” (Hurston 4) and going as far as to pay for the rent for her room (Hurston 5). Sykes does not work for this money, nor does he have some hidden savings; he leeches off of his own hardworking wife to do what he pleases for not only himself, but Bertha as