Small Great Things
Stage One: Transition — Kennedy 2
by Picoult, JodiThe chapter opens with Kennedy reflecting on the dichotomy of public defenders: idealists who believe they can change the system and realists who recognize its overwhelming flaws. She describes the grueling reality of the job, where victories are small and personal, like reuniting a rehabilitated mother with her child or winning a motion to suppress evidence. The work is Sisyphean, with endless caseloads, poor pay, and little recognition. To cope, Kennedy and her colleagues draw strict boundaries between work and personal life, yet she finds herself haunted by dreams of her client, Ruth Jefferson, signaling her inability to compartmentalize this case.
Kennedy’s dreams about Ruth are surreal and unsettling. In the first, Ruth speaks an incomprehensible language, culminating in a swarm of blue butterflies. The second dream features a lavish dinner that turns into a prison cell, leaving Kennedy parched and disturbed. These dreams blur into her waking life, prompting her to ask her husband, Micah, what would happen if she went to prison. Their playful banter masks her underlying anxiety about Ruth’s case, which lingers in her mind despite her usual ability to leave work at the office.
The next morning, Kennedy’s preoccupation with Ruth becomes evident as she prepares for court. She considers taking on Ruth’s felony case, despite her already overwhelming workload. Micah questions her sudden ambition, linking it to her earlier prison hypothetical. Kennedy admits her inability to shake Ruth’s story, which stands out from her usual cases. While she typically finds sympathy for clients who’ve made mistakes, Ruth’s situation feels unresolved and inexplicably unjust. Their conversation is interrupted by their daughter, Violet, whose innocent antics provide a brief respite from Kennedy’s professional turmoil.
The chapter closes with Kennedy at her office, where a small TV hints at the media attention surrounding Ruth’s case. This detail underscores the public scrutiny and pressure Kennedy faces, contrasting with the private turmoil revealed in her dreams and family interactions. The chapter paints a vivid picture of a public defender grappling with the emotional weight of a case that defies her usual detachment, blurring the lines between her professional resolve and personal vulnerability.
FAQs
1. How does Kennedy describe the two types of public defenders, and which category does she place herself in?
Answer:
Kennedy identifies two types of public defenders: idealistic newcomers who believe they can “save the world” and jaded veterans who recognize the systemic limitations. She places herself in the latter category, describing how her initial idealism hardened into realism after witnessing the overwhelming caseloads and systemic injustices. Her victories are now measured in small, individual successes—like reuniting families or winning minor legal motions—rather than large-scale change. This reflects her view of public defenders as modern Sisyphus figures, endlessly pushing a boulder uphill (page 188).2. Analyze the symbolism in Kennedy’s dreams about Ruth Jefferson. What might they reveal about her subconscious concerns?
Answer:
The first dream, where Ruth speaks an incomprehensible language and releases butterflies, symbolizes Kennedy’s struggle to understand Ruth’s perspective and the transformative potential of her case. The second dream, featuring a lavish meal in a prison cell, reflects Kennedy’s fear of being trapped by the case’s ethical weight and systemic constraints. Together, they reveal her subconscious tension between professional duty (the attorney-client relationship) and personal anxiety (the “thirst” for justice amid institutional barriers) (pages 189–190).3. How does Kennedy’s conversation with Micah about prison highlight the tension between her personal and professional life?
Answer:
Micah initially treats Kennedy’s hypothetical prison question as a joke, but her persistence—especially regarding their daughter Violet—shows her genuine anxiety about the risks of taking on Ruth’s case. His sarcastic remark about her workload (“since you already have five hundred open cases”) underscores the personal toll of her profession. This exchange reveals how Kennedy’s commitment to justice clashes with her roles as a wife and mother, forcing her to weigh professional ethics against family stability (pages 190–191).4. What does Kennedy’s decision to request a felony case reveal about her ethical framework as a public defender?
Answer:
Despite her overwhelming caseload, Kennedy seeks a felony (Ruth’s case) because she senses an injustice that “doesn’t quite add up.” This reflects her core belief that “everyone [deserves] equal access to the system.” Her willingness to take on extra work for a principled cause demonstrates her commitment to systemic fairness over personal convenience, even as she acknowledges the Sisyphean nature of the work. It also marks a shift from her earlier cynicism, reigniting her idealism (page 190).5. How does the chapter use Violet’s appearance in the bathroom scene to juxtapose Kennedy’s professional and domestic worlds?
Answer:
Violet’s chaotic Minnie Mouse outfit—a bikini top with formal gloves—mirrors Kennedy’s own role conflicts. Just as Violet innocently blends incongruous elements, Kennedy navigates competing identities: a meticulous attorney versus a playful parent. Micah’s joke about “fallen women” contrasts with Kennedy’s earlier prison fears, lightening the mood but also highlighting how her family provides respite from work’s gravity. The scene underscores the challenge of maintaining professional rigor while preserving childhood innocence (page 191).
Quotes
1. “There are two types of people who become public defenders: those who believe they can save the world, and those who know damn well they can’t.”
This opening line perfectly captures the dichotomy of idealism vs. realism in public defense work. It introduces the chapter’s central theme about the harsh realities of the justice system and Kennedy’s own professional evolution from starry-eyed advocate to pragmatic defender.
2. “As it turns out, public defenders are less Superman and more Sisyphus, and there’s no small number of lawyers who wind up crushed under the weight of the infinite caseloads and the crappy hours and the shitty pay.”
This vivid metaphor illustrates the exhausting, often thankless nature of public defense work. The Sisyphus comparison emphasizes the systemic challenges that make meaningful reform seem impossible, setting up Kennedy’s personal struggle with these limitations.
3. “I ask if I can get a refill, and Ruth looks horrified. ‘I thought you knew,’ she says, and when I glance up I realize that we are locked inside a prison cell.”
This haunting dream sequence reveals Kennedy’s subconscious grappling with Ruth Jefferson’s case. The imagery symbolizes both literal imprisonment and the constraints of the justice system, foreshadowing Kennedy’s growing personal investment in Ruth’s plight.
4. “Even when a client has done something unlawful, I can find sympathy. I can acknowledge a bad choice was made, but still believe in justice, as long as everyone has equal access to the system—which is exactly why I do what I do.”
This statement encapsulates Kennedy’s professional philosophy and moral compass. It highlights the tension between her belief in systemic justice and her growing suspicion that Ruth’s case represents a fundamental breakdown of that system.
5. “Being a public defender means I have nearly ten times as many cases as are recommended by the ABA, and that, on average, I have less than an hour to prepare each case that goes to trial.”
This stark statistic demonstrates the overwhelming challenges public defenders face, providing crucial context for understanding why Kennedy’s decision to take on Ruth’s complex case represents such a significant professional risk and personal commitment.