In Huston's story, "Sweat," the protagonist, Delia, is a washwoman. It is significant that Hurston chose this profession for Delia for several reasons. For one, it is labor-intensive work. The act of washing, drying, ironing, and folding clothes at that time involved much back-breaking labor because it was primarily done by hand. Therefore, it is clear that Delia is not afraid of hard work and will do whatever it takes to support her household. Second, the act of washing the dirt out of clothes connects with what happens with her husband Sykes. He is the dirt in her life. He mistreats her, beats her, has an open affair with another woman, and brings no money into the household. When he dies at the end by the snake he brought in to torture his wife with, the dirt has been washed out of Delia's house and her life.
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