Sweat

The story’s protagonist, Delia Jones, is a hardworking woman. Her work and financial independence is sharply contrasted with her role in her abusive marriage, in which her husband Sykes wields more power. Although she has suffered physical abuse starting only two months into her marriage, in the story we see her stand up for herself both verbally and physically, particularly when it comes to her work, in which she takes immense pride. She diligently tracks her work and its results, and thinks of the house, the pony, the cart, etc., as her own. Indeed, much of what they have was earned with the fruits of her labor. The story depicts Delia applying this sense of authority and independence in her marriage, as she begins defying her cruel and unfaithful husband.

Delia’s hard work is described directly in the narrative, but it is also expressed through descriptions of her body. When lying in bed after a fight with Sykes, the first in which she stood up to him, she reflects on how she has changed since they were married: “She was young and soft then, but now she thought of her knotty, muscled limbs, her harsh knuckly hands” (Paragraph 25).