How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #7
"You done starved me an' Ah put up widcher, you done beat me an Ah took dat, but you done kilt all mah insides bringin' dat varmint heah." (76)
The last straw for Delia comes when Sykes brings the snake home. This dirty and insensitive action pushes Delia to act and finally kick the guy out of her house. At least something good came out of his dumb idea.
Quote #8
Fifteen years of misery and suppression had brought Delia to the place where she would hope anything that looked towards a way over or through her wall of inhibitions. (86)
What exactly is Delia hoping for? We think she hopes Sykes will leave her alone by threatening to turn him over to the police. The fact that she doesn't really believe the white police will help her is significant to the time period of "Sweat"—African Americans were definitely not high on the priority list when it came to law enforcement.
Quote #9
She could sit and reach through the bedposts--resting as she worked. (90)
All Delia wants while she's cleaning and folding clothes is one tiny moment of rest. She sits on the bed and works, but before she can settle down, the snake appears. Hey, at least it probably got her adrenaline running.