The Symbolism of the Snake in "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston

What is the significance of the snake in "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston?

a) The snake represents good luck and protection.

b) The snake symbolizes evil and danger, but it's ironic because it's harmless.

c) The snake symbolizes a hidden treasure.

d) The snake has no symbolic meaning in the story.

Final Answer:

The snake in 'Sweat' symbolizes evil and danger, typically associated with snakes, and is ironic because it ends up negatively impacting the antagonist rather than the intended victim, Delia.

Explanation:

The snake in the short story Sweat is ironic and symbolic because it represents both evil and danger, associated traditionally with the snake symbol but is ironic since it ends up hurting the antagonist instead of the protagonist. Snakes have been depicted in various cultures and religions as representing different things such as healing and medicine as seen with the Rod of Asclepius, but they are also associated with evil and temptation, like the serpent that tempts St. Simeon.

In the context of the story Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston, the snake can be viewed as symbolic of the challenges and threats faced by the main character, Delia, mostly coming from her abusive husband. Interestingly, the snake that her husband brings into the home to scare her eventually becomes an instrument of justice when it fatally bites him, which is the ironic twist.