Sweat Plot Diagram by Natalie M Martinez

Exposition

nmmartinez87_ — 2023-10-24 14:25:13 UTC

The plot starts off by introducing the main character Delia. The description sets her up to be the cleaning and caretaker of the household. It then sets up Delia's fear of snakes by introducing her freak out with the bull whip. You have Delia, who is fearful of snakes; then you have her husband who is the perpetrator and abuses her physically and emotionally.

Rising Action

nmmartinez87_ — 2023-10-24 14:30:09 UTC

One piece of the rising action is when the men on the porch gossip about Delia and Sykes. Moss says "Syke Jones aint with de shot an' powder hit would tek tuh kill em'. Not to huh he aint" (33). This shows that the other townspeople talk about the Jones, but not only, they know that Sykes abuses Delia. Another notible sentence said by Walter Thomas says "Its too bad, too, cause she wuz a right pritty when he got huh. Ah'd uh married huh mahself if he hadnter beat me to it" (34).

Climax

nmmartinez87_ — 2023-10-24 14:30:13 UTC

The climax of the story is when Delia tells Syke that she hates him, she says "Ah hates you, Sykes" (75). This shows her character growth in that she is learning to stand up for herself. In the beginning Delia was seen was weaker, just taking whatever Sykes threw at her. But now she is standing up to him and telling him how she feels. This scene and the interaction right before it; the interaction of Sykes enchanting the snake and scaring Delia.

Falling Action

nmmartinez87_ — 2023-10-24 14:30:18 UTC

The falling action would start with Sykes not returning home till the morning and Delia being glad. The narrator says "That night he did not return at all" and "Delia was glad she did not have to quarrel before...Woodbridge" (79).

Resolution

nmmartinez87_ — 2023-10-24 14:30:24 UTC

The story ends with Delia's abusive husband being bitten by the snake and dying. This is the resolution because Delia is now free from the torment.

nmmartinez87_ — 2023-10-24 14:41:25 UTC

Another piece of rising action could be the whip Delia found in the laundry and mistaking it for a snake. Delia freaks out, "Just then some long, round, limp and black slithered upon her shoulders and fell onto the floor beside her.

Conflict

nmmartinez87_ — 2023-10-24 14:58:21 UTC

The conflict is Delia's fear of snakes and her abusive husband who uses her fear as enterainment.

nmmartinez87_ — 2023-10-24 15:01:43 UTC

The last piece of rising action would be Delia meeting Bertha- Sykes mistress. But she doesn't care and instead pays no mind to her. And also whehn Delia realizes she truly does not love him at all; she is repulsed by him and anytime she attempts at being friendly she "was repulsed each time. It was plain that the breach must remain agape" (56). This leads up to the climax; all these events lead up to Delia's breaking point where she would speak her mind.

nmmartinez87_ — 2023-10-24 15:12:18 UTC

Another piece of falling action is when Delia realizes none of this is her fault, "...Gawd knows taint my fault" (92). But at this time she also finds peace with the snake, "Out of this an awful calm" (91).

nmmartinez87_ — 2023-10-24 16:13:08 UTC

The last piece of falling action is when Sykes gets scared of the snake himself, "The rattling ceased for a moment as he stood paralyzed.