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Definition of Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which authors hint at plot developments that don't actually occur until later in the story. Foreshadowing can be achieved directly or indirectly, by making... read full definition
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which authors hint at plot developments that don't actually occur until later in the story. Foreshadowing can be achieved... read full definition
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which authors hint at plot developments that don't actually occur until later in the... read full definition
Foreshadowing
Explanation and Analysis—Snakes and Death:
One of the main literary techniques Zora Neale Hurston uses in her short story "Sweat" is foreshadowing. Throughout the story, there are several references to snakes which hint at the story's conclusion. The use of foreshadowing in "Sweat" creates a sense of suspense and dread for the reader, and a feeling of anticipation that keeps the reader engaged and invested in the story.
The image of Sykes's snake-like whip foreshadows the rattlesnake that will eventually cause his demise. The whip is used by Sykes as a way to assert his power over his wife, Delia, and is a symbol of his violence and control. When Sykes throws his whip at Delia, causing her to jump in fright, Delia tells Sykes:
Some day Ah'm gointuh drop dead from some of yo' foolishness.
This direct reference to death builds the connection between the snake-like whip, Sykes's cruelty, and the possibility that someone will lose their life.
Sykes is oblivious to the ways in which he is priming his own downfall by alienating and abusing Delia. Sykes's overt cruelty and his choice to torment his wife by bringing a live snake into their home push Delia beyond her loyalty and residual love for him. When given the option, Delia decides not to warn Sykes about the snake, choosing instead to let his foreshadowed death become a reality.
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