Spousal Abuse “You sho’ is one aggravatin’ nigger woman!”; this is only one example of the abuse in Zora Neale Hurston’s short story, “Sweat”. Spousal abuse is a very common issue in today’s society. Hurston represents this form of abuse through the way the husband talks to his wife and the way he treats her. Delia is a hard-working woman who is very obedient and faithful to her husband, Sykes. Through harsh words, …showed first 75 words of 499 total…

…showed last 75 words of 499 total…it best in one of her prayers, “whatever goes over the Devil’s back, is got to come under his belly. Sometime or ruther, Sykes, like everybody else, is gointer reap his sowing.” Which is exactly what happens when the snake he brought there to threaten and scare Delia is the same one that put him in his grave. Hurston’s portrayl of spousal abuse is accurate and real, to what happens in the world.