literary analysis essay on sweat by zora neale hurston

Zora Neale Hurston

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“Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston Literature Analysis Research Paper

Introduction, is delia jones representative of black women at the time, why did she stay with such an abusive husband, how do you account for the townspeople’s opinions/observations of her, works cited.

Zora Neale Hurston wrote “Sweat,” in 1926 and the book was aimed at depicting the influential factors in her life. From 1924-1926, there was substantial empowerment of the Civil Rights organizations such as the National Urban League (NUL) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). As a result, Zora Neale Hurston wrote “Sweat” during a period of interracial association between American whites who were sympathetic of African Americans and the African American Talented Tenth.

The prevailing concept of this period was the progression of African-American civil rights through the establishment of an interest group that was basically created by the artistic and literary movement. During this period, there was pressure from a group of American whites who were of the opinion that African Americans were predisposed to complaining that they lacked recognition for their work.

The pressure group suggested that African Americans start presenting and exhibiting their work which led African American writers to start publishing their work together with exhibiting their artistic work.

Delia Jones is the central character of the Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat”. Delia is a washerwoman who has been married to an abusive husband, Sykes Jones for fifteen years. Delia comes across as a thin woman who has been extremely overworked due to her sagging shoulders (Lowe 74). She is extremely afraid of snakes, a phobia that her husband Sykes maliciously takes advantage of.

“Sweat” takes a record of the events in her life, and her transition to a “new Delia” when she stands up to her husband after she finally has had enough of his abuse and consequently his death. Delia is greatly representative of an African American woman in the 1920s due to several reasons (Jones 85). The first reason is that most working-class African American women during this period were mainly employed as housemaids and washerwomen in white people homes (Croft 21).

Due to the prevailing conditions at the time, African American women were overworked and received a meager income just like Delia (Miles 52). In addition, Delia’s husband Sykes exploits her and squanders her income which was also a common practice at the time. African American women were required to be submissive to their husbands and in most cases; the husbands took advantage of their wives especially when the wives earned more than the husband (Croft 21).

Some of Sykes’s bad behaviors, for instance, his appeal for big women and also excessive money spending were widespread typecasts held by white people about black men who were often expressed in a variety of racist publications during the time (Jones 84). However, some elements of Delia do not confer to other black women of the time, for instance, the fact that she was the sole provider (Lowe 75).

This is unlike the African American women of the early twentieth century since the husbands were entirely responsible for Providence, and the wives were dedicated to staying at home and looking after the children (Miles 56). Another unique aspect of Delia is the fact that she is the one who owns and paid for the house they live in. Men during this period were the main income earners hence had a higher predisposition to own houses as compared to women.

The main reason why Delia stayed with Sykes is that Delia had low self-esteem, which was caused by Sykes verbal and physical abuse toward her. That being the case, Delia feels that she has limited options as far as getting another husband is concerned. Her low self-esteem consequently leads her to cling on to the marriage through the abuse finally gets to her and she stands up to Sykes eventually quelling the violence (Lowe 76).

Furthermore, Delia is a Christian and believes that the sanctity of marriage should be preserved regardless of Sykes’ behavior towards her. Delia draws power from the Bible and gospel songs such as crossing the Jordan and her crawling “over the earth in Gethsemane and up the rocks of Calvary” (Lowe 77). Delia, therefore, perseveres through the abuse with an internal hope that the abuse and infidelity will one day end and she will be rewarded for her patience (Croft 23).

In a Biblical context, it seems that Delia embraces suffering as a way of life on earth hence sees no use for parting ways with her husband. It is also clear that the first dew moths of their marriage were quite pleasant, and thus, Delia may still have hope that their love and marriage would once again be strong (Jones 84).

For instance, Jim Merchant, one of the men on Joe Clarke’s porch mentions that Sykes used to be very “skeered uh losing” to Delia when they first married. This kind of love or attraction seems to be part of what Delia one day hopes for hence, she continues to stay with her abusive husband.

Delia points out to Sykes that, “Ah hates you tuh de same degree dat Ah useter love yuh,” (Croft 29) and the intensity of this outburst is a strong indicator of the fact that she used to love him very much in the early stages of their marriage fifteen years ago before his abuse towards her began(Croft 29).

After she fails to get along with her husband, Delia’s only desire is live in the house she has worked for and to worship on Sundays. Therefore, it is also possible that she has no aspiration for other men and desires to be alone if she cannot be at peace with Sykes (Lowe 77).

The townspeople who are basically represented by the men outside Joe Clarke’s store pity the way Delia is treated by her husband and despise Sykes for his ineptness to sustain his wife. Some of their observations such as “Delia’s habitual meekness seemed to slip from her shoulders like a blown scarf” suggest that the townspeople are remorseful of the abuse, infidelity, and promiscuity Delia has to bear together with the shame that she endures through her husband’s actions(Lowe 74).

The men on Joe Clarke’s porch represent African American bourgeoisie who draw attention to the fact that there are several men who can be compared to Sykes. Joe Clarke portrays women as sugarcane and abusive husbands like Sykes as men who squeeze “every drop uh pleasure” out of their wives by being overbearing and committing adultery regardless of their wives mind-set (Miles 55). It is possible that Sykes was not always abusive to his wife but he has become bolder in his abuse as the story progresses.

The men on Joe Clarke’s porch recall that Delia used to be a very beautiful young woman before the abuse from her husband began. Dave Carter One of the men on the porch of Joe Clarke’s store talks about the way Bertha looks like when she opens her mouth to laugh, comparing her to an alligator (Lowe 78). Old Man Anderson, on the other hand, recommends that the men whip and kill Sykes which goes to show the extent to which the townspeople feel the need to liberate Delia from her abusive husband (Jones 87).

The author uses the townspeople to give a third person remark of Delia, Sykes and their marriage. The townspeople recognize Sykes as the main source of Delia’s tribulations. They admire the way she is able to withstand working so hard for white people in order to pay for her “lovely” home and Joe Lindsay remarks on the way she delivers the clean clothes every week without fail (Miles 59).

An allegory such as “Delia’s work-worn knees crawled over the earth in Gethsemane and up the rocks of Cavalry many, many times during these months” depicts her as a victim of traverse oppression from the white community and also from her husband (Croft 33).

The men on Joe Clarke’s porch note that Delia has tried to be timid, kind and has worked hard in order to get along with Sykes until she has finally given up and only wants to be left in peace so that she can do her work (Lowe 74). It is only when she has had enough of her husband’s abuse that she starts to become belligerent towards him which consequently boils down to her refusal to help while he is dying after a snake bite.

Hurston uses her childhood town of Eatonville and its economic state of affairs as a great inspiration for the book “Sweat”. The book discloses much of Hurston’s reflective recollections. One of the author’s fundamental concerns in the book was the predicament regarding subjugation within the black population. Delia’s poverty and hard work are strongly connected with whites, for whom she must work for.

White racism and domestic abuse create a powerful permutation that leads Delia to live a life of desperation common among African American women facing the troubles bestowed upon them by two poles of oppression at the same time. Sykes’s continual verbal and physical abuse towards his wife is the steepest hurdle in Delia’s life even as she is surrounded by racism. Delia has to resolve the troubles nearest to her home and her heart before she can be in a position to fight the racial oppression surrounding her.

Sykes bears a number of bad characteristics that the Harlem Renaissance discouraged black authors from rendering for instance alcoholism, promiscuity, and capriciousness. The author portrays a different person through her actions when Delia lets her husband die in front of her.

It is possible that she is petrified by the snake but it is also possible that she willingly lets her husband die. This is very unchristian of Delia, and the author seems to emphasize the revelation that Delia lacks an alternative to her predicament, consequently allowing her husband to die. The author, therefore, puts forward an element of liberation and a repudiation to obey conventional principles in Delia’s demeanor.

Croft, Robert. A Zora Neale Hurston Companion . New York: Greenwood Press, 2002. Print.

Jones, Sharon. Rereading the Harlem Renaissance : Race, Class, and Gender . New York: Greenwood press, 2002. Web.

Lowe, John. Jump at the Sun: Zora Neale Hurston’s Cosmic Comedy . Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 1994. Print.

Miles, Diana. Women, Violence, & Testimony in the Works of Zora Neale Hurston . California: Peter Lang Publishing, 2003. Print.

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Literary Analysis of "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston

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Published: Jan 31, 2024

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Introduction, background on zora neale hurston's writing style and techniques, theme 1: power dynamics in relationships, theme 2: symbolism and setting, theme 3: gender and race.

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Analysis of "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston Using Symbolism

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"Sweat," a short story by Zora Neale Hurston, is a female empowerment text about a woman overcoming her abusive husband. Written in the 1920s, the story is set in central Florida, near Orlando. "Sweat" features Delia and her husband, Sykes, with their marital strife as the plot for the not-so-happy-ending fairy tale. As in many of Hurston's works, symbolism is key to understanding the story.

The clothing in "Sweat" is symbolic in many ways. The fact that Delia is a washerwoman represents women's history of difficult, back-breaking labor. This notion of women and labor is especially true regarding African-American women and domestic labor in the American South. Sykes, Delia's husband, tramples on the clothing, showing his contempt for her job and for her, even though her clothing pays for their home. This symbolizes his disregard for her and their life together.

The snake, long a symbol of evil and malevolence, is used throughout the story. Delia is deathly afraid of snakes, a fact that Sykes uses to his advantage. At the beginning of the story, he tricks her with a whip to scare her and to show her once again that he has dominance over her. A bit later, Sykes actually catches a large rattlesnake. Though Delia begs him to kill it, he leaves it in the house with her, where it begins to rattle continually as it grows hungrier, a signal of trouble coming.

The Chinaberry Tree

Flowers and fruits and plants in general are a common symbol in Hurston's short stories and novels, nearly always symbolizing womanhood and fertility. Chinaberry trees are not native to Florida; they are an invasive species that was brought to Florida to be planted as an ornamental tree. They provide lovely shade, but their fruit is poisonous. Delia sits and waits under the chinaberry tree in the yard of her house for Sykes to die after he is bitten by the rattlesnake he brought into the house. The tree, symbolizing womanhood and fertility, has triumphed in the end.

White and Black

An interplay of white and black -- symbolizing clean and dirty, darkness and light, or even good and bad -- interplays throughout the short story. Delia is separating white clothes from darker clothes when Sykes purposely scatters them, trampling dirt on the whitest pile of clothing. He tells her not to bring white people's clothing into the house. Delia likes everything to be clean and orderly, but she paid for her house with her sweat and her blood. She finds the snake in a basket at night after she strikes a match for illumination, but before she is struck. Goodness and evil interplay in Hurston's story, but in the end, goodness triumphs, and Delia is able to escape her husband.

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Lori Garrett-Hatfield has a B.J. in Journalism from the University of Missouri. She has a Ph.D. in Adult Education from the University of Georgia. She has been working in the Education field since 1994, and has taught every grade level in the K-12 system, specializing in English education, and English as a Second Language education.

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“Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston: A Multidimensional Critique

This poignant short story “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston was published in 1926 within the single issue of the influential Harlem Renaissance literary magazine Fire!!.

Introduction: “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston

Table of Contents

This poignant short story “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston was published in 1926 within the single issue of the influential Harlem Renaissance literary magazine Fire!! . Known for its rich depiction of Southern African American life and Hurston’s distinctive use of dialect, the story explores themes of gender inequality, resilience, and the complex power dynamics within a troubled marriage. Delia, the hardworking washerwoman protagonist, endures years of abuse at the hands of her cruel and unfaithful husband, Sykes. The story unfolds with a vivid, almost folkloric quality, delving into the symbolism of snakes, the relentless grind of labor, and Delia’s ultimate act of defiance in the face of oppression.

Main Events in “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston

• Delia is verbally abused by her husband, Sykes. He scares her with a bullwhip, mocks her fear of snakes, and forces her to sort the white folks’ laundry in her house.
• Delia stands up to Sykes. She refuses to be intimidated and talks about how he doesn’t contribute to the home but lives off of her hard work from washing clothes.
• Sykes leaves and brings home a mistress. He flaunts his new relationship with Bertha.
• Sykes continues to disrespect their home. He disregards Delia’s objections to keeping laundry in the house and undermines her values.
• Local townspeople gossip about Sykes. They criticize his treatment of Delia and open relationship with Bertha, expressing sympathy for Delia.
• Sykes brings home a rattlesnake. He deliberately tries to terrorize Delia by keeping it in a box by the kitchen.
• Delia expresses her hatred of Sykes. She stands up for herself, saying her love has turned to hate, and she’ll no longer tolerate his abuse.
• Sykes brags about his new mistress. He continually degrades Delia’s appearance and tells her he can’t wait to get rid of her.
• Delia confronts the snake. She bravely lights her way into the bedroom to sort laundry and is horrified to find the snake now loose in the hamper.
• Delia flees the house and hides. She escapes to the hayloft in terror, eventually gathering her strength and resolve.
• Sykes returns and demolishes the snake’s box. Delia hears this from her hiding place.
• Delia witnesses Sykes being bitten by the snake. She hears the struggle, the horrific screams, and watches him desperately trying to escape the bedroom.
• Sykes calls for Delia’s help. He pleads desperately, knowing only she might be able to save him.
• Delia refuses to help. She knows it is too late and that helping him would go against everything she now believes.
• Sykes dies from the snakebite. Delia waits, knowing he is dying a slow, agonizing death, and feels only relief.

Literary Devices in “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston

1. Allusion : References to external ideas or texts to add meaning.

• Biblical Allusions: Sykes mistreating Delia and his eventual punishment evoke the story of Adam and Eve and the concept of reaping what you sow. “Whut’s de mattah, ol’ satan, you aint kickin’ up yo’ racket?” (Hurston).

2. Dialect : The use of regional, non-standard English to represent the authentic speech patterns of the characters.

• Southern African American Dialect: “Ah hates you tuh de same degree dat Ah useter love yuh.” (Hurston).

3. Foreshadowing : Hints of events to come, creating suspense.

• Sykes bringing a rattlesnake home: “He set it down carefully beside the wash-tub and stepped back respectfully but not hastily” (Hurston). This foreshadows his eventual demise.

4. Hyperbole : Intentional exaggeration for emphasis:

• Delia’s workload: “Sweat, sweat, sweat! Work and sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat!” (Hurston).

5. Imagery : Vivid language appealing to the senses:

• The Chinaberry tree: “A great tree that threw off cool, pungent odors…Delia used to sit there…a long time after Sykes had gone” (Hurston). Represents Delia’s peace and hope.

6. Irony : A contrast between expectation and reality:

• Sykes’ Death: Sykes intended to use the snake to torment and kill Delia. Instead, he is the one who dies in a horribly ironic twist.

7. Juxtaposition : Placing contrasting ideas near each other for emphasis:

• Delia and Sykes: Delia is hardworking and virtuous, while Sykes is lazy and immoral. Their differences are highlighted throughout the story.

8. Metaphor : A direct comparison between unlike things:

• Sykes’ comparison to the snake: “He is a snake in the grass” is an implied metaphor throughout the story, associating him with evil and treachery.

9. Motif : A recurring element that reinforces a theme:

• Sweat: Symbolizes Delia’s labor, suffering, and strength.

10. Paradox : A seemingly contradictory statement that reveals a deeper truth.

• Delia witnessing Sykes’ death: She is horrified by his suffering, yet feels both a “glorious independence” and the fear it brings (Hurston).

11. Personification : Giving human qualities to non-human things:

• Of the house: “Her house…had crouched down to shelter the space” (Hurston).

12. Repetition : Repeating words or phrases for emphasis:

• “Sweat, sweat, sweat!”: Drives home the magnitude of Delia’s hardship.

13. Simile : A comparison using “like” or “as”:

• Delia’s fear: “[Her voice] small like a frightened child’s” (Hurston).

14. Symbolism : Objects or actions representing ideas or concepts:

• The snake: Represents evil, corruption, and ultimately Sykes himself.

15. Understatement : Deliberately underplaying the significance of something for effect.

• Delia’s relief at Sykes’ death: “…she sobbed and subbed until she had no more tears left to fall” (Hurston). Though understated, her response implies deep relief after years of abuse.

Characterization in “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston

Major characters.

• Hardworking and Resilient: Her primary characteristic is her tireless work ethic as a washerwoman, even in oppressive Florida heat. “She squatted in the kitchen floor beside the great pile of clothes…Sweat, sweat, sweat!” (Hurston).
• Religious: Initially, Delia is deeply religious, seeking solace in prayer and church. “[She] raced down the road to the church” (Hurston). This faith is later challenged by Sykes’ cruelty.
• Transformation: While starting as timid and fearful, Delia gains strength against Sykes’ abuse. In the climax, she refuses to help him, leading indirectly to his death, “[She] could scarcely reach the Chinaberry tree, where she waited in the growing heat while inside she knew the cold river was creeping up and up to extinguish that eye which must know by now that she knew” (Hurston).
• Cruel and Abusive: Sykes’ sadistic behavior defines him. He frightens Delia with the snake, flaunts his mistress Bertha, beats her, and tries to kill her. He represents toxic masculinity.
• Lazy and Entitled: He refuses to work, living off Delia’s labor. This sense of entitlement fuels his belief he can treat her in any way.
• Symbolic Death: His death by his own snake isn’t just ironic; it symbolizes how the evil he inflicted was his own undoing.

Minor Characters

• Bertha: Sykes’ mistress. She’s mostly symbolic, representing his brazen disregard for Delia and the community’s acceptance of his infidelity. Her physical size reinforces her power over Sykes in their relationship.
• Highlighting Gender Dynamics: Their comments about Delia and Sykes showcase the ingrained sexism of the community.
• Establishing Community: They give a sense of a small-town where everyone knows each other’s business.
• External Judgement: Their disapproval of Sykes creates a sense of social justice, even if they don’t directly intervene on Delia’s behalf.

Character Analysis Note

Zora Neale Hurston avoids painting fully “good” or “bad” characters. Delia is strong, yet her initial fear is understandable. Sykes, monstrous as he is, evokes pity on some level for being trapped in his own cycle of cruelty

Major Themes in “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston

Writing style in “sweat” by zora neale hurston.

• Hurston utilizes Southern African American dialect to showcase the characters’ heritage and add authenticity to the setting.
• Examples: “Ah hates you tuh de same degree dat Ah useter love yuh.” (Hurston).
• Hurston’s evocative descriptions bring the physical world and characters’ emotions to life.
• Example: “The sweat beaded on her temples and ran down her face in streaks…Her arms were slick and wet…” (Hurston).
• Symbolic elements add layers of meaning to the story’s themes.
• The snake represents evil and Sykes’ destructive nature (Ref: “He set it down carefully beside the wash-tub…” (Hurston)).
• Delia, the washerwoman, embodies strength and resilience (Ref: “Sweat, sweat, sweat! Work and sweat…” (Hurston)).
• The story transitions between Delia and Sykes’ perspectives, providing a well-rounded understanding of their motivations.
• Hurston’s masterful use of language and imagery creates a powerful and moving story.

Literary Theories and Interpretation of “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston

Questions about “sweat” by zora neale hurston.

• How does Hurston use symbolism to portray the theme of oppression in “Sweat”?
• Thesis: Through the use of symbolic imagery such as the snake and the white clothes, Zora Neale Hurston conveys the theme of oppression and the struggle for liberation in “Sweat.”
• In what ways does “Sweat” reflect the historical experiences of African Americans in the rural South during the early 20th century?
• Thesis: Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” provides a window into the social and economic realities of African Americans living in the rural South during the early 20th century, highlighting the effects of racial and gender oppression on their lives.
• How does the portrayal of gender roles in “Sweat” reflect the broader societal expectations placed on women during this time period?
• Thesis: Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” depicts the struggles faced by women who were expected to conform to traditional gender roles and highlights the ways in which patriarchal oppression impacted their lives.
• What is the significance of the setting in “Sweat” and how does it contribute to the themes of the story?
• Thesis: Through the portrayal of the rural Southern setting in “Sweat,” Zora Neale Hurston conveys the cultural and historical context of the story, highlighting the challenges faced by African Americans living in this region during this time period.

Short Question-Answer “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston

• Question 1: How does the setting of “Sweat” contribute to its exploration of key themes?
• Answer: The rural Florida setting underscores themes of isolation and vulnerability. Delia’s entrapment within an abusive relationship is amplified by the lack of external support systems. The oppressive heat mirrors the suffocating atmosphere of her marriage. The community’s passive judgment reinforces the limited options available to women in her situation.
• Question 2: What is the most significant symbol in “Sweat” and how does it function?
• Answer: The snake is the most potent symbol. It embodies both Sykes’ malicious nature and the pervasive evil of domestic abuse. Its presence foreshadows his demise and serves as a reminder of the insidious ways violence can infiltrate the most intimate spaces.
• Question 3: In what ways does Delia exercise agency within the story?
• Answer: Despite the abuse she endures, Delia demonstrates agency through her industriousness and financial independence. Her transformation is marked by a growing defiance of Sykes, culminating in the morally complex decision to withhold aid. This act, while chilling, signifies an assertion of self-preservation in a desperate situation.
• Question 4: What are the literary functions of Hurston’s use of dialect in “Sweat”?
• Answer: Zora Neale Hurston’s use of dialect serves multiple purposes. It provides authenticity and depth to the characters, grounding them in their regional and cultural identity. Additionally, during the Harlem Renaissance, it was a form of literary preservation, celebrating the richness and nuance of Black vernacular.

Literary Works Similar to “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston

• “ The Yellow Wallpaper ” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: This short story explores themes of female confinement within patriarchal structures and the psychological unraveling that can result.
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker: This novel delves into themes of domestic abuse, the resilience of the human spirit, and the transformative power of female bonds within the context of Black Southern life.
• Short Stories by Flannery O’Connor: O’Connor’s works share Hurston’s Southern Gothic sensibility, often featuring flawed characters facing moral dilemmas, with elements of violence and unexpected twists.

Non-Fiction:

• Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston: Hurston’s acclaimed novel explores themes of identity, love, and female agency within the Black experience, providing a counterpoint to the domestic oppression depicted in “Sweat”.
• Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston: This autobiography offers insights into Hurston’s personal experiences, cultural influences, and perspectives, which shaped her storytelling style and thematic focus.
• Works by Langston Hughes: A leading voice of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes’ poetry celebrates Black vernacular and explores a range of experiences reflecting Black life in America, often expressing themes of struggle, resilience, and cultural pride.

Suggested Readings: “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston

Scholarly articles.

• Bell, Bernard W. “Folk Art and the Harlem Renaissance.” The Massachusetts Review , vol. 31, no. 1/2, 1990, pp. 295–309. JSTOR , www.jstor.org/stable/25090100. Explores Hurston’s use of folklore and its connection to broader artistic and cultural movements.
• Provides in-depth analysis of the story’s narrative structure, symbolism, and thematic complexity.
• Situates Hurston’s work, including “Sweat,” within the broader context of African American literary history and critical debates.

Anthology with Critical Introduction

• Contains the text of the story alongside insightful critical commentary by leading scholars.

Additional Resources

• Examines Hurston’s portrayal of community and Southern Black culture within the story.
• Provides biographical information, critical essays, and access to primary source materials related to Hurston’s life and work.

Related posts:

• “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams
• “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce: Analysis
• “Civil Peace” by Chinua Achebe: Analysis
• “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor: Analysis

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Home / Essay Samples / Health / Sweat / Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston: Theme of Abuse and Oppression

Sweat By Zora Neale Hurston: Theme of Abuse and Oppression

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• Topic: Sweat , Zora Neale Hurston

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Works Cited

• “Five Reasons Why Snakes Are Freaking Scary.” RealClearScience, www.realclearscience.com/blog/2012/03/five-reasons-snakes-are-scary.html.
• Garrett-Hatfield, Lori. “Analysis of ‘Sweat’ by Zora Neale Hurston Using Symbolism.” Education, 21 Nov. 2017, https://education.seattlepi.com/analysis-sweat-zora-neale-hurston-using-symbolism-6589.html.
• 'Imagery.' Literary Devices, 15 Aug. 2017, literarydevices.net/Imagery/.
• Shmoop Editorial Team. “Sweat Summary.” Shmoop, Shmoop University, 11 Nov. 2008, www.shmoop.com/sweat-hurston/summary.html
• “Symbolism.” The Free Dictionary,Farlex,https://www.thefreedictionary.com/symbolism.
• TheFreeDictionary.com. (2019). allusion. [online] Available at: https://www.thefreedictionary.com/allusion [Accessed 24 Nov. 2019].
• 'Zora Neale Hurston.' Biography, 23 Jan. 2018, www.biography.com/writer/zora-neale-hurston.
• 'Zora Neale Hurston Results.' Yahoo Search - Web Search, search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=iba&hsimp=yhs-1&type=psar_6198_CHW_US_tid1101&p=zora%20neale%20hurston.

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