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What is the importance of studying the the character of Delia Jones in "Sweat" by Zora Neal Hurston?

Delia is a complex and fascinating character.  In "Sweat," she endures physical and emotional abuse from her husband, who is a cruel and inhumane man.  He beats her and cheats on her openly, purposely trying to humiliate her.  Delia is torn between her sense of loyalty to her husband and her desire to end the abuse.  However, she knows she cannot leave her husband or she will face dire consequences.  Her husband tries to scare her with a snake; however, he is the one who is bitten, and Delia, instead of assisting her husband, watches him die a painful death from the snakebite.