Light and Darkness in "Sweat"

                In Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” the use of light throughout the story helps illuminate Delia’s journey. Darkness and night coincide with fear, especially the fear of Delia. Light and matches and the lamp indicate a proactive change, and a switch in the power dynamics between Delia and Sykes.

                The story opens with “It was eleven o’clock of a Spring night in Florida” (73). Delia is working, preparing herself for the week of laundry work. Hurston opening “Sweat” in the night correlates with Delia being trapped in her unhappy marriage with Sykes. Delia is in a dark and hopeless place, with little hope for peace.   Sykes demonstrates his enjoyment in causing Delia frustration and sorrow, by scaring her with his whip (73). The whip, used by Sykes to mimic a snake, causes Delia great fright. While it may be reminiscent of a snake, the whip also likely instills fear in Delia because it is a tool used on people for punishment and beatings. Sykes also clearly enjoys making life even more difficult for Delia as he disrupts her piles of clothes, even grinding his boots into them (74). This display by Sykes shows that he recognizes and is uncomfortable with Delia being the breadwinner. In complicating her work load, Sykes attempts to assert his dominance, and tries to show Delia that he has control.

                Delia had had enough, and the presence of light signifies and strengthens her character. Sykes “struck a match against his breeches,” and commenced to tell Delia that he would not have her white people’s washing in “mah house” (74, 75). After threatening a beating, Sykes watches as “Delia’s habitual meekness seemed to slip from her shoulders like a blown scarf… bravely defying the strapping hulk before her” (75). Delia’s stance against Sykes with a iron skillet, surprises Sykes and the reader. Sykes is astonished that humble, skinny Delia is standing up to him and claiming the house as her own. His astonishment and his departure signal his waning control over Delia. In leaving the house, Sykes subconsciously surrenders control of the house to Delia and represents to the reader the shift in power dynamics.

                In the ending of “Sweat,” it is, again, night. Delia, returning home from church feels empowered (82). Delia, setting about to do her work, looks for matches, but finds “There was only one” for Sykes had “done toted off nigh on tuh haff uh box uh matches” (83). Sykes taking the matches is symbolic of him trying to take Delia’s newfound power from her by bringing in the snake. The removal of matches is his attempt to remove and further power gains by Delia, and mirrors his attempt to terrorize her with the rattler. In taking her ability to make light or fire, Sykes is trying to take her ability to bring in wash.  Yet, Delia finds the lone remaining match, and thus finds the courage to free the snake.

                The story ends at daybreak. Sykes has returned from his night endeavor with Brenda. Delia is outside, terrified of the snake in her bed. As Delia hears Sykes’ screams as he meets his demise with the snake, she “waits in the growing heat,” (85). The ending at daybreak signifies that at last Sykes has relinquished all control of Delia and she is finally free. She finally holds the power.