Delia in the story "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston is a hardworking, spiritual, and determined poor black washwoman in the south during the early 1920's. She is married to an abusive and domineering husband, who cheats on her, and doesn't contribute to the maintenance of the home.
Delias traits and characteristics are an important part of the story, because it's her resilience and beliefs that sustain her; but's it's her irrational fear of snakes that keeps her alive in the end. Throughout the story Delia seems to be in constant conflict with her husband Sykes. He is constantly threatening her, and expressing his contempt for her as a person. Delia is very thin, which disgusts Sykes because it's an indication of their poverty. Delia also washes the clothes of "white folk" for wages. This outrages Sykes, he hates having "their clothes" in his home. Sykes has a problem with Delia working for the "whites'. Racism is a strong issue at this time, and Sykes has a great deal of resentment and hatred of the suppression he's experienced by white people. In the end, Sykes is bitten by a rattlesnake that he had intended for Delia. Delia is aware that the snake is still alive, and still inside the house before Sykes comes home. She makes no attempt to warn him of the danger, but basically after hours of rage and introspection, she abandons him to his fate. Delia by this action has given up some of her spiritual principles. She doesn't remain a tolerant wife, who tirelessly wades her lot in life. She decides to take matters into her own hands, and allows the death of her husband to take place. She no longer is leaning on God for support, as she has done previously in the story.
