Small Great Things
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.
Stage Two: Pushing — Ruth 3
byPicoult, Jodi
Ruth returns home to find her son Edison missing, consumed by worry as she reflects on her own emotions during the trial. She grapples with guilt over her anger toward the racist father and the hospital, questioning whether her feelings compromised her professionalism. Her confrontation with Kennedy lingers in her mind, leaving her both exhilarated and unsettled. When her sister Adisa arrives, Ruth confides her fears about Edison’s future, fearing her actions may have irrevocably damaged his path forward.
Adisa provides comfort, though Ruth remains paralyzed by the realization that her future is no longer in her control. She blames herself for defying Kennedy’s advice and speaking out, now facing the consequences. Adisa lightens the mood with humor before offering Ruth their mother’s lucky scarf, a symbolic gesture of support. The scarf becomes a tangible reminder of resilience as Ruth prepares to face the storm of uncertainty ahead.
Edison eventually returns home, visibly agitated and refusing to engage with Ruth. His cold rejection deepens her despair, leaving her too emotionally drained to force a conversation. That night, Ruth dreams of her mother’s funeral, a haunting vision where she sees her own face on a decaying body—a metaphor for her fear of losing herself. The nightmare is interrupted by violent knocking at the door, signaling a harsh turn of events.
Police storm the house, arresting Edison for a hate crime—a shocking accusation that leaves Ruth in disbelief. As officers drag her son away, she protests, insisting on a mistake, but the chapter ends abruptly, leaving his fate uncertain. The arrest compounds Ruth’s turmoil, underscoring the cascading consequences of her choices and the systemic forces working against her family.
FAQs
1. How does Ruth’s emotional state evolve throughout the chapter, and what key moments trigger these changes?
Answer:
Ruth begins the chapter in a state of anxious worry over Edison’s disappearance, fearing he may be grappling with her courtroom outburst. Her emotions intensify as she confesses her hatred toward the racist father and admits her momentary lapse in professionalism with the baby, questioning whether this makes her “the villain” or simply “human.” A pivotal shift occurs when Adisa arrives, offering comfort and returning their mother’s lucky scarf—a symbolic gesture that briefly restores Ruth’s strength. However, her emotional collapse resurfaces when Edison rejects her, culminating in her nightmare about her own death and the police arresting Edison, leaving her utterly powerless.2. Analyze the significance of Adisa’s actions in this chapter. How does her character serve as both a foil and a support to Ruth?
Answer:
Adisa acts as Ruth’s emotional anchor, contrasting Ruth’s despair with pragmatic toughness (e.g., joking about baking a cake with a file) while also providing unconditional support. Her return of their mother’s scarf—a stolen token she initially kept for her own “luck”—symbolizes her prioritization of Ruth’s needs over her own. Adisa’s blunt honesty (“you always got me”) and physical comfort (holding Ruth as she sobs) highlight her role as a grounding force. Her presence underscores Ruth’s isolation while also mitigating it, demonstrating how familial bonds persist despite adversity.3. What does Ruth’s nightmare reveal about her subconscious fears?
Answer:
Ruth’s dream of her own funeral, where she is both mourner and corpse, reflects her terror of losing agency and identity. The vines pinning her down mirror her real-life helplessness as the legal system and Edison’s arrest strip away her control. The skeletal body with her face suggests she feels emotionally “devoured” by the trial’s consequences, while her mother’s detached commentary (“It’s a shame”) implies unresolved guilt. The nightmare crystallizes Ruth’s fear that her choices have doomed her son and herself, blending mortality imagery with her waking reality of systemic oppression.4. How does the chapter portray the theme of inherited trauma through Edison’s behavior?
Answer:
Edison’s avoidance of Ruth (“I have nothing to say to you”) and his frantic running suggest he is wrestling with inherited anger and betrayal. Ruth’s earlier monologue wonders if he fears being “doubly damned” by her actions and societal racism. His arrest for a “hate crime” (likely misplaced or exaggerated) ironically mirrors Ruth’s persecution, showing how systemic bias cycles through generations. His knapsack hints at preparation for flight or resistance, symbolizing a younger generation’s struggle to navigate a world that criminalizes their existence.5. Evaluate the symbolic role of the “lucky scarf” in this chapter. How does it encapsulate broader themes?
Answer:
The scarf embodies intergenerational resilience and the burden of “luck” in a prejudiced world. Initially stolen by Adisa for her own protection, its return to Ruth signals solidarity and shared survival. When Adisa wraps it around Ruth’s neck “like she is ready to be sent into the storm,” it becomes armor against systemic injustice—a tangible heirloom contrasting the intangible “privilege” Ruth briefly felt in court. The scarf’s journey mirrors the novel’s exploration of how Black women’s labor (literal and emotional) sustains their communities amid oppression.
Quotes
1. “I don’t know if that bled over into my ability to care for a patient. I can’t tell you that for a moment, it didn’t cross my mind. That I didn’t look down at that innocent baby and think of the monster he would grow up to be.”
This quote captures Ruth’s raw internal conflict about whether her racial trauma compromised her professional duty. It reveals the psychological toll of systemic racism and the human struggle to separate personal pain from ethical responsibility.
2. “Does that make me the villain here? Or does that just make me human?”
This pivotal question distills the chapter’s central tension—Ruth grappling with moral ambiguity after her courtroom outburst. It challenges simplistic notions of guilt/innocence and highlights the complexity of responding to oppression.
3. “I have lost control of my future. And it’s my own damn fault. I didn’t play by the rules. I did what Kennedy told me not to. And now I’m paying the price for using my voice.”
This moment represents Ruth’s painful realization about the consequences of defiance within oppressive systems. It underscores the book’s exploration of power dynamics and the costs of speaking truth to power.
4. “There,” she says, like I am ready to be sent into the storm.”
Adisa’s symbolic gesture with their mother’s scarf (a talisman of Black resilience) marks a turning point where Ruth prepares to face the consequences of her actions. The storm metaphor reflects both personal crisis and systemic injustice.
5. “You’re under arrest for a Class C felony hate crime.”
This shocking cliffhanger ending reframes the chapter’s personal conflicts through the lens of institutional violence. The unjust arrest of Ruth’s son illustrates how systemic racism punishes Black families across generations.