Florida in the 1920s seems to be a world dominated by men who don't do much of anything—unless you consider cheating, abusing, gossiping and spitting sugar cane something. (For the record—we don't). If Hurston was alive and well, we'd call her up and ask her what's up with these men in "Sweat"—are they based on real people she knows? Based on previous boyfriends or husbands? Because they sure don't seem like the ones you'd want to bring home to momma.
Questions About Men & Masculinity
- Why do none of the men (minus Joe Clarke) seem employed?
- Why does Sykes stay with Delia if he seems to like Bertha better?
- Compare and contrast the way Sykes treats Delia and how he treats Bertha.
- How do the rest of the men view Sykes?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Insecure men use violence and power to seem manlier.
The only real man in the story is Joe Clarke because he tells the truth and doesn't make outrageous claims.