How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
She was on her feet; her poor little body, her bare knuckly hands bravely defying the strapping hulk before her. (17)
Okay, it's pretty easy to be on Team Delia and not Team Sykes. It's the perfect image of weak vs. strong, like the mouse vs. the lion, or David vs. Goliath. On the outside, it seems like she's got little chance against the hulk.
Quote #2
Ah been takin' in washin' for fifteen years. Sweat, sweat, sweat! (18)
Here, Delia stands up for herself and defines her role as the bread-winner and laborer in the marriage. Sticking your hands in tubs and cleaning for fifteen years sounds pretty awful; doing it with a husband like Sykes sounds agonizing, and she drives the point home with the repetition of the word 'sweat.'
Quote #3
Mah tub of suds is filled yo' belly with vittles more times than yo' hands is filled it. (20)
Delia has fed Sykes for fifteen years and receives no thanks. What's that about? Perhaps it has something to do with laziness—he got used to a certain lifestyle and then just decided to never change it. Of course, Delia didn't help matters by staying quiet for so long, but better late than never, right?