How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
She began to cry audibly, holding a white handkerchief to her face.
He got up and stood close behind her. He put her arms around her. He kissed her neck between ear and coat-collar. He said: "Now, Iva, don't." His face was expressionless. (3.19)
Iva is making quite the scene here, but are these merely crocodile tears? Is she really upset about her husband's death? Spade isn't trying very hard to be comforting, either. His face is "expressionless," and he seems to be pretty suspicious of this act that Iva is putting on.
Quote #2
"You're an angel," he said tenderly through smoke, "a nice rattle-brained angel." (3.50)
Spade makes constant use of diminutive words throughout the novel, calling Effie things like "angel," "darling," "sister, and "sweetheart." Are these simply terms of endearment or is Spade subtly asserting his masculine authority?
Quote #3
She squirmed on her end of the settee and her eyes wavered between heavy lashes, as if trying and failing to free their gaze from his. She seemed smaller, and very young and oppressed. (4.35)
This is Brigid at her most dangerous. The keyword here is "seemed." Brigid seems young and small and helpless. But she's far from the innocent school-girl she's pretending to be. And Spade isn't easily fooled be her feminine charms.