Sweat Men & Masculinity Quotes

Sykes strikes again. Now he's really mad because Delia threatened him with an iron skillet, giving him a taste of his own medicine. It's important to notice how he uses the word 'oughter' (ought to)—he's too awed by her bravery to challenge her.

Where are these men getting all this time to chew cane, and why are there no women enjoying this yummy treat? Hurston says a lot about men with a story in which men don't do much but talk. Get up, get out, and go do something, dudes.

Here, Merchant tells the other men on Joe Clarke's porch about Sykes trying to woo his wife. We gotta wonder why Sykes is still alive if he's threatened the masculinity of Merchant and other men around town. Our theory? Hurston's pointing out the flaws in men (or, you know, human beings) in that they often say one thing and do another.