Questions About Religion
How would the marriage of Sykes and Delia be considered in the church?
Do you think Delia stays with Sykes out of a sense of religious duty?
What comfort does Delia get from God? Mention quotes from the text.
Is Delia’s faith a help or an excuse for why she is still with Sykes?
Questions About Gender
Why do you think the only woman with dialogue in “Sweat” is Delia Jones? What effect does that have on you as a reader?
How would you categorize or describe Bertha? What sort of women is she?
What do the men do in “Sweat”?
Do you think Delia Jones is an exceptional woman, given the historical context of the story?
