Afbeelding van de auteur.

Cheryl A. Wall (1948–2020)

Auteur van Sweat

6+ Werken 146 Leden 2 Besprekingen

Over de Auteur

Bevat de naam: Cheryl A. Wall

Fotografie: Rutgers

Werken van Cheryl A. Wall

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This story is about Delia Jones and her husband, Sykes, They are black; Delia is a “washwoman”” but Sykes does not approve of her washing “white folk’s clothes”.

The story is characterized by the couple’s “black dialect”, being written as they actually talk. This makes the text less easy to read but on the other hand renders the dialogue more authentic.

Sykes is a violent man who beats his wife brutally. Sykes likes fat women and Delia is skinny, He is running around with a big woman called Bertha.

Delia is scared of snakes so Sykes brings a huge rattle snake home in a box.

Delia tells Sykes that she hates him as much as she once loved him. She hates him like a “suck-egg dog”.

Sykes now insults her appearance and tells her he has hated her for years.

A day or two later, while doing her laundry, Delia finds the snake in the laundry basket. She runs away and hides in the hay barn.

It is dark and there is only one match left. Sykes has been out and now returns and Delia hears the snake whirring; her husband is fighting with it.

In the morning, she hears Sykes calling “Delia, Delia”, but she cannot move.

He is on his hands and knees, and has a horribly swollen neck.

She feels pity but there is not time to make it to the doctor’s.

We don’t know exactly what has happened, but can understand that the end is nigh for Sykes: justice has been served.
… (meer)
 
Gemarkeerd
IonaS | 1 andere bespreking | Dec 19, 2022 |
A powerful story about a woman living with an abusive husband. They survive by her sweat, and he resents her for it. When he brings a snake into the house, she has to confront an additional fear that is even more powerful than the man that beats her. The story is strong with images. You can see, hear, smell, and feel the story. A story about surviving as a black woman, powerless to control your own destiny, until fate delivers your destiny into your hands.
½
 
Gemarkeerd
Devil_llama | 1 andere bespreking | Aug 16, 2013 |

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Statistieken

Werken
6
Ook door
3
Leden
146
Populariteit
#141,736
Waardering
½ 4.3
Besprekingen
2
ISBNs
19

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