Question

For "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston PART A: Which TWO statements best express major themes of the short story? A) Power can be dangerous when it lands in careless hands. B)The pursuit of base desires can lead to one’s demise. It is better to ignore negative influences than to confront them. C)It is easier to see others’ misfortunes than to see one’s own. D) The consequences of people’s actions eventually catch up with them. E)Compassion has its limits and can vanish as a result of abuse.

Answer 1

Answer:

Two statements that best express the major themes of the short story "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston are options -

D. The consequences of people’s actions eventually catch up with them,

and

E. Compassion has its limits and can vanish as a result of abuse.

Explanation:

It’s true that consequences of one’s actions eventually catch up with him/her. Sykes got a snake to drive Delia out of the house but things ended up the other way round. The snake got out and bit Sykes which eventually killed him.

This is also true that compassion has its own limits and abuse can abolish it. Delia was compassionate towards Sykes. But it worn out due to years of abuse. The men sitting outside the store always spoke of how Sykes' abuse had changed Delia who was once the most beautiful girl in town. It’s seen at the end of the story that Delia had no compassion for Sykes and therefore, she didn’t help him when he was dying.

Answer 2

D) The consequences of people’s actions eventually catch up with them. E)Compassion has its limits and can vanish as a result of abuse.

Option D is true because of the snake Sykes brings home to try and run Delia out of the house. The snake gets out and ends up biting him and killing him. His actions with the snake eventually catch him and kill him.
Option E is true as well. Delia once had compassion for Sykes. However, after years of his abuse Sykes has worn it out. The men sitting outside the store comment on how Sykes' abuse has changed Delia as she was once the most beautiful girl in town. Her compassion for Sykes at the end of the story is completely gone and she does not help him when he's dying.