The Irresponsibility Of Sykes's Death

Her strength is a mental strength and she is stronger than most. Although Sykes is able to physically abuse her and stoops to lows such as abuse she still fights back. This is surprising as women during this time were expected to be completely submissive and obey their husband’s command. Instead she ignores him since she knows that she is the dominant one. Even the men at the shop recognize that she is the provider in the family and that Sykes is an abuser. They also recognize the effect the abuse had on her and her appearance. They say the women “Never wuz de same in de mind (Hurston 4).” They also say Delia “wuz ez pretty ez a speckled pup (Hurston 4).” Now though she does not look the same as she did when she first married Sykes. Despite her abuse from her husband she grows stronger because of it. She does this by simply getting used to it. This is why he keeps changing his ways of abuse, because she has over come them and has become numb to them. Eventually everything will reach a boiling point where there is no

While reading the story, I did have a bit of trouble comprehending the dialogue. A few lines did take more than one read through. Interesting that you bring that up because I was wondering if anybody was going to mention the style of writing. Anyway, the significance and symbolism of the clothes did stand out to me. I can also see how the line you mentioned is an example Sykes disrespect towards Delia. In the story, I feel he appeared to be very ungrateful with no decent values. Especially towards those who he is suppose to care about and who support him. Thanks for the

This comparison to Jesus’ suffering and ultimate sacrifice creates a more vivid image of agony that not only entails Delia’s physical situation but also her mental state. Later as she is threatening to report Sykes, Delia declares, “Mah cup is done run ovah,” directly referencing the Bible. In the Bible, one’s cup overflows with blessings whereas Delia’s cup overflows with hate. Throughout all of her tribulations, Delia keeps a generally positive attitude which ultimately allows her to overcome her

There is some parallel to Sykes sinful ways towards Delia in the sense that he is an adulterer who has defiled their matrimonial oath. Also there isn’t really anything good you could say about Sykes because he is very mean and cruel towards his wife, just a completely unpleasant human being. “Oh well, whatever goes over the Devils back, is going to come under his belly. Some time or ruther, sykes like everybody else, is gointer reap his sowing” (519). This is also a motif taking from the snake biting Sykes, because he eventually got the evil that he meant for Delia, in the end the snake bit him instead of her. There is a verse from the bible that also is relevant given that Sykes got what he put out. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (KJV Galatians

Delia never reacted to Sykes nonsense because all she knew was to pray for the man she forced herself

I think that Delia was putting up with Sykes because maybe she felt like she did not have much of a choice. From reading the short story, we learn that this story is based on a much older and different time period. During that time women did not have much of a say on a lot of matters. We read how the neighbors knew that Sykes was hurting Delia, but yet they choose not to do anything about it. People back then were very traditional so maybe they felt like they should not get in the middle of husband and wife. It was not common for husband and wife to get divorced or separated, so maybe Delia felt like she had to endorse the pain since she already married him and there is nothing more she can do. I also believe that Delia stayed with Sykes because

     As she lies on her bed, Delia gains a moment of comfort, and a getaway from her great disdain. She is able to create a spiritual barrier from the mistreatments she receives from her unscrupulous husband. The bed is her Eden, her only resource for relaxation and a content being. Even the hamper in the bedroom is the only group of clothing that is considered neat and tidy, representing the cleanliness of the room. Everywhere else in the house, Sykes would step on and trample over the clothing Delia had to clean. He had no respect for his wife and her work. The bedroom used to be the only place that hadn’t been defiled by Sykes, until he slept with Bertha in it. Knowing of this travesty brings Delia over the edge.

In reading the story it is easy to see that Sykes becomes somewhat jealous of Delia. At first, he did all that he could to win Delia’s heart and keep it. As said by Walter Thomas, one of the minor characters in the story, “he useter be so skeered uh losin’ huh, she could make him do some parts of a husband’s duty” (Hurston 4). Yet somehow, Sykes falls out of love with Delia early in their marriage and that’s when his oppression over her began. He not only wears her down by beating her and ultimately changing her appearance, he also abuses her mentally. He resented not only the fact that Delia was the only one of the two that was financially stable within the household, but he mostly resented her job and the reality that she was comfortable with washing clothes for the “white folks”. Time and time again he tried everything in his power to make sure she didn’t finish her days work as a wash woman. For example he shows his disgust with her job when he comes home in the beginning of the story an sees his wife working, “he stepped roughly upon the whitest pile of things, kicking them helter-skelter as he crossed the room” (Hurston). He blatantly disrespects her and sends the message that no matter what he

Although this angers Delia to hear, she simply reminds Sykes that she spends all of her time supporting them, and has done nothing but work, sweat, and pray for the fifteen years that she had been married to him. Delia eventually tells Sykes “Dat’s de reason Ah got mah letter from de church an’ moved mah membership to tuh Woodbridge – so Ah don’t haftuh take no sacrament wid yuh” (Hurston 569). Before she falls asleep that night, she reflects on the events of the evening, and finds some peace through her faith that Sykes would eventually get what is coming to him when she says aloud “Oh well, whatever goes over the Devil’s back, is got to come under his belly” (Hurston 565). It is also important to note that rather than give Sykes exactly what he has coming to him, Delia’s beliefs, both moral and religious, prevent her from taking action because she trusts that eventually God will take care of Sykes for the wrong he has done. We can see a bit of foreshadowing as to the fate of Sykes in the story when he assures everyone he is a snake charmer and can charm the deadly diamondback and says “Ah’m a snake charmer an’ knows how to handle ‘em. Shux, dat ain’t nothin’” (Hurston 568).

people’s clothes demonstrates her strength and determination. Delia is a dynamic character as shown early in the story with this quote: “She seized the iron skillet from the stove and struck a defensive pose, which act surprised him greatly, coming from her.” Sykes’ dumbfounded reaction to Delia’s defensive action allows the reader to assume that this

Hurston introduces a form of literature that does not attack the penitent crime of slavery, instead, the story exhibits a marriage of some sort of convenience. Convenience for Sykes because Delia does all the work to sustain their livelihood, but for Delia it is more of an inconvenience. For Sykes, his duty as a husband to Delia has been forgotten. He has decided that he no longer wants Delia. He abandons his husbandly duties and for that Delia is neglected. Indeed, Delia stays with him even after the mistreatment, more so because she still loved the man that he once was. Sykes blatantly says to Delia that he does not like ‘skinny’ women, in contrast, it was he who pursued Delia relentlessly and professed his undying love for Delia in hopes that she would not leave him.

As the story develops, Hurston includes a number of events to contribute to the rising action of the story, such as, Sykes capturing a rattlesnake and leaving it in the kitchen in order to punish Delia. The story reaches its climax when Delia is

From the beginning of the story, Delia’s relationship with Sykes is unusual with lots of conflicts and a sense of revenge. Hurston has characterized Delia as a hard working wash woman who works diligently to support her family. On the other hand, Sykes is reckless person who has failed to provide for his family. Although, Sykes does not have a pinch of feelings for Delia, she has been bearing his mistreatment for fifteen years. Once on a Sunday night at eleven o’clock, Delia was sorting clothes that she collected on Saturday. Meanwhile, Sykes enters and scares her with a bullwhip which looks like a snake. He even kicks the pile of clothes and puts his dirty feet on white

So Deila have every reason to let him die and not rescue him. Just looking back at it Sykes didn’t even really care for Deila. He cheated on her with some fat chick. Sykes told Deila rudely that she was to skinny. Not to mentioned also that he beated Delia.

Not only does he drain her financially, but he has also abused her mentally and emotionally for the most of their marriage. Delia reminds Sykes that all she does is "Sweat, sweat, sweat! Work and Sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat!" from the fifteen years she has been washing laundry and laments (Hurston 278). However, despite all the cruelty that is happening, the author still portrays her persona with great compassion. Delia has enormous love, but soon discovers that she has the capacity to hate as much as she loves which has developed from her long-suffering life with Sykes. The author creates Delia based off her own life of being a Christian woman, therefore, in the story "Sykes is clearly wrong throughout the story, and Delia is right in living out the principles of Christian love, tolerance, and humility" (Banks). The importance of this quote is that it puts Delia's character into perspective and reveals why the way she is. The author's beliefs and practices are demonstrated through Delia and explain her actions in the story.