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Definition of Motif
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the central themes of a book... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of... read full definition
Motifs
Explanation and Analysis—Religious Motifs :
The dominant motif that runs through "Sweat" is that of religion. The protagonist, Delia, is a God-fearing woman who attends church every Sunday, takes the sacrament, and prays regularly. Throughout the story, Hurston illustrates Delia's suffering at the hands of her husband by referencing religious imagery:
Delia's work-worn knees crawled over the earth in Gethsemane and up the rocks of Calvary many, many times during these months.
This direct comparison to Christ's suffering during the crucifixion shows how dire Delia's situation is.
However, religion is also a symbol of hope and comfort in "Sweat." Delia sings on her way home from her church's night service, draws strength from her spiritual community, and clings to her religious beliefs in the face of Sykes's abuse. She leverages her faith to both restrain her inclinations towards retaliation, and finally to alleviate her guilt over her unwillingness to prevent her husband's death. She is described as having built a "spiritual earthworks against her husband," using her faith to cushion Sykes's blows. When taunted by Sykes, Delia comforts herself by saying,
Sometime or ruther, Sykes, like everybody else, is gointer reap his sowing.
In this quote, Delia states her belief that Sykes will "reap" his own "sowing" independently of her. However, in reality, Delia is the mechanism by which Sykes is punished for his actions; by not warning him about the snake, Delia incurs partial responsibility for his death. Delia recuses herself of blame, claiming that:
Well, Ah done de bes' Ah could. If things aint right, Gawd knows taint mah fault.
Delia refers to God as an adjudicator in her case, and alleviates her guilt by professing that despite her good intentions, she was forced onto the path that ended in Sykes's death. Religion serves as both a comfort in Delia's darkest moments and as a form of absolution during Sykes's final moments; her belief in divine judgment allows her to witness her husband's death without viewing herself as implicated in it.
Related Themes:
