The central metaphor of "Sweat" is presented in its title. In Hurston's short story, sweat metaphorically represents the toil and hardship that the protagonist, Delia, endures throughout her marriage. In particular, Delia's sweat symbolizes the emotional and physical toll that her marriage takes. In the story's first scene, Delia uses the metaphor of sweat to describe the labor and exhaustion that have defined her life:
"Looks hear, Sykes, you done gone too fur. Ah been married to you fur fifteen years, and Ah been takin' in washin' fur fifteen years. Sweat, sweat, sweat! Work and sweat, cry and sweat, pray and sweat!"
In this quote, Delia compares her marriage to her washing business; both have made huge demands on her time and energy, and both have required her sweat while giving little in return. Here Delia names the three defining elements of her marriage: tears, which represent the sorrow caused by her abusive husband and decaying marriage; prayer, which stands in for her faith; and sweat, which permeates every area of her life.
Sweat is so dominant in Delia's daily life that the townspeople on Joe Clarke's porch joke:
"Delia works so hard ovah dat washtub she reckon everything on de place taste lak sweat an' soapsuds."
The joker implies that Delia works so hard that anything she cooks tastes of her sweat. This simile draws attention to the fact that sweat is not simply an element of Delia's life—it has also displaced any flavor or enjoyment she once experienced.
But Delia's metaphorical sweat has bought her the only stable thing in her life: her house, which she and Sykes share. She tells Sykes:
"Mah sweat is done paid for this house and Ah reckon Ah kin keep on sweatin' in it."
Sweat is not only a mark of suffering for Delia—it is also something she takes pride in. She has earned her way, while Sykes has failed to do so. Delia states that her "tub of suds" has filled Sykes's stomach "more times than [his] hands is filled it." Despite the physical and emotional power Sykes wields against her, Delia's sweat has bought her self-respect and the knowledge that she is capable of sustaining herself in the absence of a caring husband.
Throughout "Sweat," Hurston uses biblical imagery to develop central themes in her characters' lives. One such image is that of the Jordan River, which the Israelites crossed when leaving the wilderness and entering into the Promised Land. The Jordan River serves as both an allusion and a metaphor—while it alludes to the biblical Jordan, it also metaphorically represents a crossing from the world of the living to that of the dead.
The Jordan often featured in early African American spirituals and hymns, and served as a symbol of freedom from the suffering and hardship of life under racial oppression. While walking home from a night service at her church, Delia sings:
"Jurden water, black an' col'
Chills de body, not de soul
An' Ah want cross Jurden in uh calm time."
The metaphor of the Jordan River symbolizes Delia's desire to be free of her "domestic trials" and abuse at the hands of her husband, Sykes. She dreams of "cross[ing]" the "Jurden," and thus leaving her marital troubles behind her.
In the African American spiritual tradition, the crossing of the Jordan also served as a symbol of justice for the oppressed and judgement for the oppressor. Delia, a faithful Christian, trusts that Sykes will "reap his sowing"—a biblical allusion to the day of judgment. In the final scene of the story, Delia watches Sykes "reap" the consequences of his actions:
"She waited in the growing heat while inside she knew the cold river was creeping up and up to extinguish that eye which must know by now that she knew."
At the story's conclusion, the River Jordan metaphorically represents both Sykes's crossing from life into death, and Delia's transition from an existence steeped in fear to one of freedom from her oppressor. The "cold river" Jordan acts as the agent of justice, sweeping Sykes away from Delia and cleansing her life of his presence.
