Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story

    Small Great Things

    by

    Picoult, Jodi

    Jodi Picoult’s Small Great Things (2016) explores themes of race, privilege, and justice through the story of Ruth Jefferson, an African American labor and delivery nurse accused of causing the death of a white supremacist couple’s newborn. The novel alternates perspectives between Ruth, the infant’s father Turk Bauer, and Ruth’s public defender Kennedy McQuarrie, revealing systemic racism and personal biases. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote about doing “small things in a great way,” the narrative examines moral dilemmas and societal structures. The book has been praised for its thought-provoking examination of contemporary racial tensions and is being adapted into a film.

    PreviousNext
    Small Great Things

    Stage One: Transition — Turk 1

    by

    Picoult, Jodi

    The chap­ter opens with Turk Bauer, a griev­ing father, meet­ing his lawyer Roarke Matthews in a lux­u­ri­ous office to dis­cuss a poten­tial civ­il law­suit. Turk, dressed in bor­rowed clothes, is out of place in the opu­lent set­ting but deter­mined to seek jus­tice for his loss. Matthews, impec­ca­bly dressed, express­es sym­pa­thy before explain­ing the com­plex­i­ties of suing Ruth Jef­fer­son, the nurse Turk blames for his child’s death. He cau­tions that a civ­il suit could back­fire, mak­ing Turk appear oppor­tunis­tic dur­ing the ongo­ing crim­i­nal case.

    Matthews advis­es Turk to tar­get the hos­pi­tal instead, cit­ing its deep­er finan­cial resources and lia­bil­i­ty for its staff’s actions. He sug­gests nam­ing Ruth Jef­fer­son as a sec­ondary defen­dant in case her finan­cial sit­u­a­tion changes. Turk, envi­sion­ing both jus­tice and finan­cial com­pen­sa­tion, agrees to the strat­e­gy. Matthews rec­om­mends wait­ing until the crim­i­nal tri­al con­cludes to avoid com­pro­mis­ing Turk’s cred­i­bil­i­ty, assur­ing him the civ­il suit will remain viable. This prag­mat­ic approach high­lights the inter­sec­tion of grief, vengeance, and legal strat­e­gy.

    The nar­ra­tive then shifts to a flash­back reveal­ing Turk’s past con­nec­tion to Fran­cis Mitchum, a promi­nent fig­ure in the Anglo suprema­cy move­ment, and his daugh­ter Brit. Turk admires Brit from afar, drawn to her beau­ty and rebel­lious spir­it, but avoids pur­su­ing her due to her father’s intim­i­dat­ing rep­u­ta­tion. He ingra­ti­ates him­self with Fran­cis by assist­ing with chores and feign­ing inter­est in his extrem­ist ide­olo­gies. The dynam­ic under­scores Turk’s cal­cu­lat­ed nature and the tox­ic envi­ron­ment shap­ing his world­view.

    The flash­back cul­mi­nates in a charged encounter between Turk and Brit, where she provoca­tive­ly ques­tions his rep­u­ta­tion and chal­lenges his mas­culin­i­ty. Their ban­ter reveals mutu­al attrac­tion, but Turk resists her sug­ges­tion to join his crew, fear­ing Fran­cis’s wrath. This inter­ac­tion fore­shad­ows their future rela­tion­ship while illus­trat­ing the vio­lent sub­cul­ture they inhab­it. The chap­ter jux­ta­pos­es Turk’s present legal bat­tles with his past, paint­ing a por­trait of a man shaped by loss, extrem­ism, and ambi­tion.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • Answer:
      Roarke Matthews advises Turk Bauer to file a civil lawsuit against the hospital rather than directly suing nurse Ruth Jefferson. He explains that Jefferson has limited financial resources (“doesn’t have a pot to piss in”), whereas the hospital has “deep pockets” and is legally responsible for supervising its staff. Matthews also notes that a simultaneous civil suit could harm the criminal case by making Turk appear as a “gold digger” during cross-examination. The lawyer suggests waiting until after the criminal trial to avoid complications, while still naming Jefferson in the suit in case her financial situation improves (pages 154-156).

      2. How does the chapter contrast Turk Bauer’s appearance and demeanor in the lawyer’s office with his usual self?

      Answer:
      The chapter highlights Turk’s deliberate effort to appear conventional in the upscale law office. He wears a shared jacket, ironed pants, and a wool cap to blend in as “any ordinary Joe,” contrasting with his typical identity as someone who would “skirt the legal system and take justice into his own hands.” His nervous habits (twirling his wedding ring) and observations about the office’s luxury (crystal tumbler, paneled walls) underscore his discomfort in this environment, emphasizing the divide between his white supremacist affiliations and mainstream professional settings (pages 154-155).

      3. Analyze how Brit Mitchum challenges Turk’s masculinity in their first interaction. What does this reveal about their dynamic?

      Answer:
      Brit provocatively questions Turk’s reputation, asking if he’s just a “little pussy” basking in her father’s glory rather than a true tough guy. Her taunting tone (“mouth twitch”) and dare to join his crew force Turk to prove himself by splitting wood with exaggerated strength. This reveals a power imbalance: Turk is both intimidated by her connection to Francis Mitchum and attracted to her. Brit’s boldness subverts traditional gender roles in their subculture, while Turk’s cautious response (“I’m not taking Francis Mitchum’s daughter out”) shows his awareness of her father’s influence (pages 156-157).

      4. Why does Francis Mitchum’s vision of “Anglo supremacy” differ from traditional methods, and how does Turk initially react to it?

      Answer:
      Francis advocates for spreading white supremacist ideology through anonymous online platforms rather than physical violence, calling it a “war fought not with fists but with ideas.” Turk privately dismisses this as the rambling of a “crazy old coot” but humors Francis to stay close to Brit. His skepticism reflects generational and tactical divides within extremist movements, where older leaders like Francis (a “legend of the Movement”) adapt to modern tools, while younger members like Turk may prioritize direct action. Turk’s pragmatic deference highlights the social hierarchies within their group (page 156).

    Quotes

    • This quote reveals Turk’s self-awareness about his usual approach to conflict resolution versus his current attempt to navigate the legal system. It highlights the tension between his personal instincts and the formal process he’s engaging with after his son’s death.

      2. “The defense will make you out to be a gold digger with a grudge.”

      This blunt statement from the lawyer captures the harsh realities of civil litigation and how personal tragedy can be twisted in court. It represents a key turning point where Turk realizes the complexities of seeking legal justice.

      3. “Unlike Ms. Jefferson, the hospital does have deep pockets… you might not just get justice—you might get a very handsome payout.”

      This cynical advice from the lawyer reveals the financial motivations behind civil lawsuits and the strategic thinking involved in targeting defendants with resources rather than just those directly responsible.

      4. “I thought a lot about what it would feel like to have those curls hanging over my face like a curtain as she kissed me.”

      This intimate reflection about Brit shows Turk’s vulnerable, romantic side beneath his tough exterior. It provides important backstory about his relationship with his wife and how he entered the white supremacist world.

      5. “I like to think I fall somewhere between the two extremes.”

      Turk’s response to Brit’s challenge demonstrates his self-perception as neither a legendary warrior nor a pretender. This moment captures the beginning of their relationship and Turk’s careful navigation of his identity within the movement.

    Quotes

    This quote reveals Turk’s self-awareness about his usual approach to conflict resolution versus his current attempt to navigate the legal system. It highlights the tension between his personal instincts and the formal process he’s engaging with after his son’s death.

    2. “The defense will make you out to be a gold digger with a grudge.”

    This blunt statement from the lawyer captures the harsh realities of civil litigation and how personal tragedy can be twisted in court. It represents a key turning point where Turk realizes the complexities of seeking legal justice.

    3. “Unlike Ms. Jefferson, the hospital does have deep pockets… you might not just get justice—you might get a very handsome payout.”

    This cynical advice from the lawyer reveals the financial motivations behind civil lawsuits and the strategic thinking involved in targeting defendants with resources rather than just those directly responsible.

    4. “I thought a lot about what it would feel like to have those curls hanging over my face like a curtain as she kissed me.”

    This intimate reflection about Brit shows Turk’s vulnerable, romantic side beneath his tough exterior. It provides important backstory about his relationship with his wife and how he entered the white supremacist world.

    5. “I like to think I fall somewhere between the two extremes.”

    Turk’s response to Brit’s challenge demonstrates his self-perception as neither a legendary warrior nor a pretender. This moment captures the beginning of their relationship and Turk’s careful navigation of his identity within the movement.

    FAQs

    Answer:
    Roarke Matthews advises Turk Bauer to file a civil lawsuit against the hospital rather than directly suing nurse Ruth Jefferson. He explains that Jefferson has limited financial resources (“doesn’t have a pot to piss in”), whereas the hospital has “deep pockets” and is legally responsible for supervising its staff. Matthews also notes that a simultaneous civil suit could harm the criminal case by making Turk appear as a “gold digger” during cross-examination. The lawyer suggests waiting until after the criminal trial to avoid complications, while still naming Jefferson in the suit in case her financial situation improves (pages 154-156).

    2. How does the chapter contrast Turk Bauer’s appearance and demeanor in the lawyer’s office with his usual self?

    Answer:
    The chapter highlights Turk’s deliberate effort to appear conventional in the upscale law office. He wears a shared jacket, ironed pants, and a wool cap to blend in as “any ordinary Joe,” contrasting with his typical identity as someone who would “skirt the legal system and take justice into his own hands.” His nervous habits (twirling his wedding ring) and observations about the office’s luxury (crystal tumbler, paneled walls) underscore his discomfort in this environment, emphasizing the divide between his white supremacist affiliations and mainstream professional settings (pages 154-155).

    3. Analyze how Brit Mitchum challenges Turk’s masculinity in their first interaction. What does this reveal about their dynamic?

    Answer:
    Brit provocatively questions Turk’s reputation, asking if he’s just a “little pussy” basking in her father’s glory rather than a true tough guy. Her taunting tone (“mouth twitch”) and dare to join his crew force Turk to prove himself by splitting wood with exaggerated strength. This reveals a power imbalance: Turk is both intimidated by her connection to Francis Mitchum and attracted to her. Brit’s boldness subverts traditional gender roles in their subculture, while Turk’s cautious response (“I’m not taking Francis Mitchum’s daughter out”) shows his awareness of her father’s influence (pages 156-157).

    4. Why does Francis Mitchum’s vision of “Anglo supremacy” differ from traditional methods, and how does Turk initially react to it?

    Answer:
    Francis advocates for spreading white supremacist ideology through anonymous online platforms rather than physical violence, calling it a “war fought not with fists but with ideas.” Turk privately dismisses this as the rambling of a “crazy old coot” but humors Francis to stay close to Brit. His skepticism reflects generational and tactical divides within extremist movements, where older leaders like Francis (a “legend of the Movement”) adapt to modern tools, while younger members like Turk may prioritize direct action. Turk’s pragmatic deference highlights the social hierarchies within their group (page 156).

    Note