Archetypes in "Sweat"

The snake in Hurston's "Sweat" is an excellent example of an archetype. Such a symbolic creature! I was researching "snake symbolism" and found something about children that play with modeling clay (ha, random yes, but follow me!). Often, the long, thin noodle that they produce between the palm of their hands will be called a snake, even if they have never seen one. This is fascinating because it enforces Jung's ideas about archetypes - these are hard-wired and transcend time and culture. Although it's true we have been seeing that some symbolic archetypes are also very contextual and dependent upon culture.

Serpent (snake or worm): symbol of energy and pure force (cf. libido); evil, corruption, sensuality; destruction; mystery; wisdom; the unconscious.

In "Sweat", the snake is a source of great fear and hate for Delia. Very early in the story, she expresses her paralyzing fear of snakes and blasts Sykes for scaring her with the whip, which she had mistaken for a snake. Later, when there is an actual snake in her home, she suffers from an even greater degree of torment, that suggests a parallel between her hate for Sykes and the snake itself. On a quick reader response tip, because of my religious background, I associate snakes with the serpent from the Bible - a classic symbol of evil. However, it is also a classic symbol of wisdom. These two ideas may both have a place in "Sweat" when considering the snake through an Archetypal Lens.

It's very interesting to consider the ending and how/why the snake caused Sykes' implied death. Perhaps the snake represents death or God's wrath - enforcing justice into Sykes' neck with its fangs! Maybe the snake is a symbol of anger and is the living manifestation of Delia's anger toward Sykes. The possibilities are endless but the process of asking these questions is so important in our attempt to find meaning.

I think this specific example is a fantastic model for how several different components of Critical Theory come together in a unified approach to studying literature. Since the snake image evokes an emotional response from most readers, it could be a great way to encourage students to explore their own personal associations with such an image. This unifies two lenses - Reader Response & Archetypal - all while using the text to enrich our understanding of both content and theory.

Another really fascinating archetype in "Sweat" is the color white. Early in the story, Sykes is stepping on "the whitest pile" of freshly washed clothes that belong to "white folks'." From our previous discussions on primordial symbols, we know that white is associated with purity or innocence. It could be that he is metaphorically stepping on Delia's innocence and purity. He is actually defiling her soul by violently mistreating her.

I also picked up on the seasonal archetype idea. The story starts in spring and "burns through" the summer. Spring is usually a symbol for rebirth and new life. Summer symbolizes peace, maturity, knowledge, and the prime of life. With this in mind, perhaps Delia will finally be at peace, now that her tormenter has perished.

Finally, the "Bully" character archetype that Jessica mentioned is clearly at work here, too. Sykes dominates the relationship as the aggressor and Delia is terribly oppressed - a common character relationship found in many works of literature.