Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Tiffany Barrs
English 102/076
April 22, 2002
Blood, ?Sweat,? and Tears: A Historical/Biographical Analysis of Hurston?s ?Sweat?
The purpose of any literary work is to convey an idea or concept to its audience. Often the message is one that is directly reflective upon the life of the writer. The context of the piece, the period of time during which it was written, and the events that are reflected within it may have an enormous effect on the work, both in its style and in the ways through which the audience can interpret the author?s literary aims. Zora Neale Hurston clearly depicts the societal dilemma concerning racial and gender conflict in the South in her short story, ?Sweat.? Through a crystal-clear depiction of Southern life in the twentieth century, strongly suggestive vocabulary, and the pure illustration of the divide between the races, Hurston gives the audience a captivating taste of segregation.
?Sweat? begins in the home of Delia Jones, an African American who works as a washwoman for white families. Her husband, Sykes, is a very devious and immoral character who finds great joy in torturing Delia both physically and emotionally.
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