Small Great Things
Stage One: Early Labor — Ruth
by Picoult, JodiThe chapter opens with Ruth recalling a pivotal childhood moment at the opulent brownstone where her mother worked as a housekeeper for the Hallowell family. The imposing home, with its gargoyle-adorned entrance and iconic NBC chime doorbell, symbolizes the stark contrast between her family’s modest life and the wealth of her mother’s employers. Ruth’s mother, Lou, is portrayed as fiercely dedicated, braving a snowstorm to work while caring for Ruth and her sister, Rachel. The narrative highlights the racial and class divide, as Ruth notices the disparity in how their coats are stored compared to the Hallowells’.
During a snow day, Ruth and Rachel accompany their mother to work, where they observe the luxurious yet isolating world of the Hallowells. Ruth’s childlike perspective reveals her confusion about the family’s vast, empty spaces and the unspoken rules of segregation. Her mother’s subservience is evident as she quietly tends to the household, while Ruth sketches an imaginary home, subtly yearning for a life of equality. The imported hot chocolate and Christina’s lavish toys further emphasize the economic gap, yet Ruth’s innocence softens the underlying tension.
The calm of the snow day is shattered when Ms. Mina, the lady of the house, goes into premature labor. Lou springs into action, displaying remarkable composure and skill as she delivers the baby amid the chaos. Ruth, Rachel, and Christina witness the raw intensity of childbirth, a moment that bonds them in awe and fear. Lou’s authority and compassion shine as she navigates the emergency, momentarily transcending her role as a servant to become a lifeline for Ms. Mina.
The chapter culminates in the miraculous birth, a transformative event that leaves a lasting impression on Ruth. Lou’s tender handling of the newborn contrasts with the earlier depictions of her as a stoic worker, revealing her depth and humanity. For Ruth, this moment becomes a metaphor for both the fragility and resilience of life, as well as the invisible barriers that define her world. The snowstorm outside mirrors the upheaval inside, marking the day as a turning point in her understanding of power, care, and belonging.
FAQs
1. How does the setting of the Hallowell household reflect the social and economic disparities between the two families?
Answer:
The Hallowells’ opulent brownstone with its wrought-iron fence, gargoyles, and NBC chime doorbell starkly contrasts with Ruth’s family’s modest circumstances. The chapter highlights disparities through details like the cramped kitchen closet for the children’s coats versus the spacious main entry for the Hallowells’, and the imported Parisian hot chocolate versus Ruth’s home life. The Hallowells’ wealth is further emphasized by Mr. Hallowell’s high-profile career and their ability to fund Mama’s hip replacement. These contrasts underscore the racial and class divides of 1970s America, where Black domestic workers like Mama served affluent white families yet remained economically marginalized.2. Analyze the significance of Mama delivering Ms. Mina’s baby in the narrative. What does this moment reveal about Mama’s character and her relationship with the Hallowells?
Answer:
This pivotal scene showcases Mama’s competence, compassion, and deep familiarity with the Hallowells. Despite being employed as domestic help, she assumes a medical role during the emergency, demonstrating her adaptability and care beyond job requirements. Her comforting words (“Look at you”) reveal genuine affection, suggesting a complex employer-employee relationship that transcends mere servitude. However, the moment also reinforces inequality—Mama must immediately prioritize Ms. Mina’s needs, even when her own children are present. This duality reflects how Black women’s labor has historically been both indispensable and undervalued in white households.3. How does the author use sensory details to convey Ruth’s childhood perspective? Provide specific examples.
Answer:
Jodi Picoult vividly captures Ruth’s childhood worldview through sensory imagery: The “guinea pig soft” scarf that smells like Mama becomes a tactile comfort object. The invisible snowflakes drawn with white crayon require tilting toward light to see—a perceptive child’s discovery. The NBC chime inspires humming, showing how Ruth finds joy in small interactions with privilege. The “piercing” scream and “gush of blood” during birth create visceral tension. These details immerse readers in a child’s heightened sensory awareness while subtly contrasting Ruth’s Black experience with Christina’s privileged one through their differing relationships to the same environment.4. What symbolic meaning might the snowstorm hold in this chapter, particularly regarding racial dynamics?
Answer:
The blizzard serves as both literal and metaphorical barrier. While white Manhattanites “shudder through the storm to work,” Ruth notices their faces “look nothing like mine”—emphasizing racial isolation amid shared adversity. The storm necessitates Ruth’s presence in the Hallowell home, creating the conditions for the birth scene that bonds the families yet underscores their inequality. The “snow globe” imagery suggests a self-contained world of privilege that Ruth observes but cannot fully inhabit. Even weather becomes a lens for racial contrast, as the children’s snowsuits are relegated to the kitchen closet while the Hallowells’ coats occupy center stage.
Quotes
1. “She muttered, stuffing us into our snowsuits and boots, that it didn’t matter if she had to cross a blizzard to do it, but God forbid Ms. Mina had to spread the peanut butter on her own sandwich bread.”
This quote powerfully illustrates the economic and racial dynamics at play, showing Ruth’s mother’s unwavering work ethic as a Black domestic worker contrasted with her white employer’s dependence on her for even basic tasks. It sets up the chapter’s exploration of labor and inequality.
2. “I had not been into any Manhattan homes except for the Hallowells’, so I didn’t know how extraordinary it was for one family to live, alone, in this huge building. But I remember thinking it made no sense that Rachel and I had to put our snowsuits and boots into the tiny, cramped closet in the kitchen, when there were plenty of empty hooks and open spaces in the main entry.”
This observation from young Ruth captures her dawning awareness of racial and class disparities. The physical segregation of their belongings symbolizes the invisible social boundaries that separate the Black domestic workers from the wealthy white family they serve.
3. “I watched the cords stand out on Ms. Mina’s neck as she groaned; I saw Mama kneel on the bed between her legs and push her gown over her knees. I watched the pink lips between Ms. Mina’s legs purse and swell and part. There was the round knob of a head, a knot of shoulder, a gush of blood and fluid, and suddenly, a baby was cradled in Mama’s palms.”
This visceral birth scene represents a pivotal moment where Ruth’s mother transitions from domestic worker to lifesaving medical provider. The graphic description highlights both the miracle of birth and the unexpected roles Black women were forced to take in white households, foreshadowing Ruth’s future as a nurse.