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    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.

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    Small Great Things

    Stage Two: Pushing — Ruth 1

    by

    Picoult, Jodi

    The chap­ter opens with a reflec­tive med­i­ta­tion on the pas­sage of time and how peo­ple cope with the real­iza­tion of life’s fleet­ing nature. Ruth observes how indi­vid­u­als dis­tract them­selves with routines—work, chores, and dai­ly tasks—until one day, they con­front the stark real­i­ty of aging and mor­tal­i­ty. Some respond by seek­ing adven­ture or new expe­ri­ences, while oth­ers cling to famil­iar pat­terns to avoid fac­ing the inevitable. Ruth hints at her own aware­ness of life’s fragili­ty, set­ting the tone for the per­son­al and emo­tion­al stakes of her cur­rent sit­u­a­tion.

    The nar­ra­tive shifts to the morn­ing of Ruth’s tri­al, where she strug­gles to per­suade her son, Edi­son, to attend court with her. Their strained rela­tion­ship is evi­dent as Edi­son resists, reveal­ing his rebel­lious behav­ior and emo­tion­al tur­moil. Ruth pleads with him, empha­siz­ing the impor­tance of his pres­ence for her defense, as her lawyer, Kennedy, believes a mater­nal image could sway the jury. Their heat­ed exchange cul­mi­nates in a vul­ner­a­ble moment where Edi­son con­fess­es his fear of hear­ing the accu­sa­tions against her, and Ruth reas­sures him of her unwa­ver­ing love and sac­ri­fices for his future.

    The chap­ter then revis­its a piv­otal dis­cov­ery: Kennedy brings news that the deceased baby had MCADD, a severe meta­bol­ic dis­or­der, which strength­ens Ruth’s defense. This rev­e­la­tion is both a relief and a moral dilem­ma for Ruth, as it means her lawyer can now argue the baby’s con­di­tion was life-threat­en­ing with­out deception—though Ruth her­self must still grap­ple with the truth. The legal twist adds ten­sion, as Ruth’s fate hinges on this new evi­dence while she wres­tles with the eth­i­cal impli­ca­tions of its use.

    In the final scene, Ruth and Edi­son share a poignant moment of rec­on­cil­i­a­tion as he agrees to accom­pa­ny her to tri­al. Their inter­ac­tion shifts from con­flict to sol­i­dar­i­ty, with Edi­son offer­ing his arm in a ges­ture of sup­port. The chap­ter clos­es with Ruth’s bit­ter­sweet reflec­tion on her moth­er’s hopes for her and the irony of her impend­ing noto­ri­ety. The emo­tion­al weight of famil­ial bonds, the urgency of the tri­al, and the loom­ing uncer­tain­ty of Ruth’s future con­verge, leav­ing read­ers with a sense of both hope and impend­ing reck­on­ing.

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    FAQs

    • 1. How does Ruth describe the universal human experience of realizing time’s passage, and what two general responses does she identify?

      Answer:
      Ruth describes the universal experience of suddenly recognizing how quickly time passes through vivid examples like children growing up or noticing gray hairs. She identifies two common responses: 1) Some people actively seek new experiences (trips to Tibet, skydiving) to distract themselves from mortality, while 2) Others (like herself) maintain routines (grocery shopping, commuting) to avoid confronting life’s impermanence. This dichotomy reflects different coping mechanisms for existential awareness, with Ruth initially falling into the latter category until her trial forces confrontation with life’s fragility (pages 323-324).

      2. Analyze the mother-son conflict between Ruth and Edison. What does this reveal about their relationship under stress?

      Answer:
      The conflict reveals profound strain in their typically close relationship. Edison’s rebellious behavior (skipping school, substance use) contrasts sharply with his former identity as a “serious scholar,” showing how trauma manifests differently across generations. Ruth’s desperate appeal (“begging” him to attend trial) and their heated exchange (“your wish might just come true”) expose raw nerves, yet their reconciliation—marked by Edison’s courtly gesture—demonstrates enduring love. The moment when Ruth recognizes “the boy I hooked my star on” beneath his defiance (page 325) underscores how crisis both fractures and ultimately reaffirms their bond through vulnerability.

      3. What strategic significance does Kennedy’s discovery about MCADD hold for Ruth’s defense, and why does it create moral tension?

      Answer:
      Kennedy’s discovery that Davis Bauer had MCADD (a severe metabolic disorder) provides crucial exculpatory evidence, making Ruth’s claim of responding to a life-threatening condition medically plausible rather than speculative. While this strengthens the defense strategy (page 326), it creates moral tension because Ruth must now actively perpetuate what she knows is still a false narrative—the original accusation stemmed from neglect, not this newly revealed condition. This positions Kennedy to argue truthfully in court while forcing Ruth into deeper complicity with a lie, complicating her ethical stance despite the tactical advantage.

      4. How does the chapter use literary devices to explore themes of time and mortality? Provide specific examples.

      Answer:
      The chapter employs:

      1. Metaphor: Life as a “train derailing” illustrates Ruth’s loss of control (page 324)
      2. Repetition: The recurring gas tank/Metro card imagery emphasizes avoidance through routine
      3. Contrast: Youthful memories (“first legal drink”) vs. present crisis highlights time’s irony
      4. Foreshadowing: “People will know my name” hints at impending notoriety (page 325)
        These devices collectively underscore the tension between time’s inevitable progression and human attempts to deny or master it, with Ruth’s legal crisis serving as the catalyst that shatters her previous avoidance.

      5. Evaluate how Ruth’s perspective on sacrifice evolves in this chapter, using textual evidence.

      Answer:
      Ruth initially views sacrifice as transactional—routine efforts to secure Edison’s future (“fill up gas tanks”). The trial forces a darker reckoning: her declaration “What happens to me doesn’t matter” (page 325) reveals a martyr complex where she undervalues her own life. However, Edison’s emotional response (“It matters to me”) challenges this, suggesting mutual rather than unilateral sacrifice. This evolution culminates in their symbolic “date” to court—a shared burden that transforms sacrifice from solitary suffering into collaborative resilience, foreshadowing their need to face adversity as partners rather than protector/protected.

    Quotes

    • 1. “We all do it, you know. Distract ourselves from noticing how time’s passing… And then one day, you turn around, and your baby is a man. One day, you look in the mirror, and see gray hair. One day, you realize there is less of your life left than what you’ve already lived.”

      This opening reflection captures the chapter’s central theme of mortality and the passage of time. It establishes Ruth’s poignant awareness of life’s fleeting nature, which colors her perspective throughout the trial preparations.

      2. “You’re going to make something of yourself. People are going to know your name… What happens to you matters. What happens to me doesn’t.”

      This emotional exchange between Ruth and her son Edison reveals her sacrificial maternal love and her hopes for his future. It’s a pivotal moment where she prioritizes his potential over her own precarious situation.

      3. “It seems that I am in need of a date to my own trial… It would be my pleasure.”

      This tender yet ironic moment showcases the complex relationship between Ruth and Edison, blending courtroom drama with familial bonds. The formal phrasing contrasts starkly with their dire circumstances, highlighting their resilience.

      4. “She wouldn’t be lying in court. Just me.”

      This brief but powerful statement reveals Ruth’s moral dilemma about the trial strategy. It underscores the ethical compromises forced upon her by the legal system and her growing awareness of the difficult choices ahead.

    Quotes

    1. “We all do it, you know. Distract ourselves from noticing how time’s passing… And then one day, you turn around, and your baby is a man. One day, you look in the mirror, and see gray hair. One day, you realize there is less of your life left than what you’ve already lived.”

    This opening reflection captures the chapter’s central theme of mortality and the passage of time. It establishes Ruth’s poignant awareness of life’s fleeting nature, which colors her perspective throughout the trial preparations.

    2. “You’re going to make something of yourself. People are going to know your name… What happens to you matters. What happens to me doesn’t.”

    This emotional exchange between Ruth and her son Edison reveals her sacrificial maternal love and her hopes for his future. It’s a pivotal moment where she prioritizes his potential over her own precarious situation.

    3. “It seems that I am in need of a date to my own trial… It would be my pleasure.”

    This tender yet ironic moment showcases the complex relationship between Ruth and Edison, blending courtroom drama with familial bonds. The formal phrasing contrasts starkly with their dire circumstances, highlighting their resilience.

    4. “She wouldn’t be lying in court. Just me.”

    This brief but powerful statement reveals Ruth’s moral dilemma about the trial strategy. It underscores the ethical compromises forced upon her by the legal system and her growing awareness of the difficult choices ahead.

    FAQs

    1. How does Ruth describe the universal human experience of realizing time’s passage, and what two general responses does she identify?

    Answer:
    Ruth describes the universal experience of suddenly recognizing how quickly time passes through vivid examples like children growing up or noticing gray hairs. She identifies two common responses: 1) Some people actively seek new experiences (trips to Tibet, skydiving) to distract themselves from mortality, while 2) Others (like herself) maintain routines (grocery shopping, commuting) to avoid confronting life’s impermanence. This dichotomy reflects different coping mechanisms for existential awareness, with Ruth initially falling into the latter category until her trial forces confrontation with life’s fragility (pages 323-324).

    2. Analyze the mother-son conflict between Ruth and Edison. What does this reveal about their relationship under stress?

    Answer:
    The conflict reveals profound strain in their typically close relationship. Edison’s rebellious behavior (skipping school, substance use) contrasts sharply with his former identity as a “serious scholar,” showing how trauma manifests differently across generations. Ruth’s desperate appeal (“begging” him to attend trial) and their heated exchange (“your wish might just come true”) expose raw nerves, yet their reconciliation—marked by Edison’s courtly gesture—demonstrates enduring love. The moment when Ruth recognizes “the boy I hooked my star on” beneath his defiance (page 325) underscores how crisis both fractures and ultimately reaffirms their bond through vulnerability.

    3. What strategic significance does Kennedy’s discovery about MCADD hold for Ruth’s defense, and why does it create moral tension?

    Answer:
    Kennedy’s discovery that Davis Bauer had MCADD (a severe metabolic disorder) provides crucial exculpatory evidence, making Ruth’s claim of responding to a life-threatening condition medically plausible rather than speculative. While this strengthens the defense strategy (page 326), it creates moral tension because Ruth must now actively perpetuate what she knows is still a false narrative—the original accusation stemmed from neglect, not this newly revealed condition. This positions Kennedy to argue truthfully in court while forcing Ruth into deeper complicity with a lie, complicating her ethical stance despite the tactical advantage.

    4. How does the chapter use literary devices to explore themes of time and mortality? Provide specific examples.

    Answer:
    The chapter employs:

    1. Metaphor: Life as a “train derailing” illustrates Ruth’s loss of control (page 324)
    2. Repetition: The recurring gas tank/Metro card imagery emphasizes avoidance through routine
    3. Contrast: Youthful memories (“first legal drink”) vs. present crisis highlights time’s irony
    4. Foreshadowing: “People will know my name” hints at impending notoriety (page 325)
      These devices collectively underscore the tension between time’s inevitable progression and human attempts to deny or master it, with Ruth’s legal crisis serving as the catalyst that shatters her previous avoidance.

    5. Evaluate how Ruth’s perspective on sacrifice evolves in this chapter, using textual evidence.

    Answer:
    Ruth initially views sacrifice as transactional—routine efforts to secure Edison’s future (“fill up gas tanks”). The trial forces a darker reckoning: her declaration “What happens to me doesn’t matter” (page 325) reveals a martyr complex where she undervalues her own life. However, Edison’s emotional response (“It matters to me”) challenges this, suggesting mutual rather than unilateral sacrifice. This evolution culminates in their symbolic “date” to court—a shared burden that transforms sacrifice from solitary suffering into collaborative resilience, foreshadowing their need to face adversity as partners rather than protector/protected.

    Note