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 5
byPicoult, Jodi
The chapter captures Ruth’s profound emotional journey following a favorable courtroom verdict. She reflects on freedom as a fragile yet powerful force, likening it to a daffodil’s neck after winter—a symbol of hope and possibility. Despite the physical sameness of her surroundings, Ruth feels everything has changed internally. As she exits the courtroom, her lawyer, Kennedy, handles the media swarm, prioritizing Ruth’s need to reunite with her son. The narrative underscores the abrupt shift from defendant to free woman, marked by both relief and disorientation.
Outside the courtroom, Ruth processes her newfound freedom through connections with loved ones. She shares the verdict with her son Edison and sister Adisa, whose joyous reactions contrast with her own subdued disbelief. A celebratory text from her friend Christina goes unanswered as Ruth grapples with the surreal reality of her acquittal. Kennedy and Howard reassure her the ordeal is truly over, and Ruth struggles to articulate her gratitude, signaling a shift in their dynamic from attorney-client to equals. The moment highlights her dazed transition back to autonomy.
Ruth’s return to the empty courtroom to retrieve her mother’s scarf becomes a poignant reflection on transformation. The silent chamber contrasts sharply with her earlier arraignment, where she was shackled and voiceless. As she envisions a future where her son might occupy this space as a lawyer or judge, Ruth absorbs the weight of her journey. The scarf—a tangible link to her past—symbolizes resilience, while the quiet room embodies the peace she now claims.
The chapter culminates in Ruth’s cathartic affirmation of freedom. Standing alone, she whispers “Yes,” then shouts it repeatedly, reclaiming her voice and agency. This act defies the constraints once imposed on her, breaking metaphorical chains. The repetition of “Yes” echoes her triumph over systemic oppression, marking not just legal victory but personal liberation. The scene closes with Ruth embracing the power to define her own narrative, a stark contrast to the silencing she endured earlier.
FAQs
1. How does Ruth describe freedom in this chapter, and what does this reveal about her emotional state after the verdict?
Answer:
Ruth describes freedom through vivid metaphors: as “the fragile neck of a daffodil,” “the sound of your voice without being drowned out,” and the ability to say yes or no. These poetic descriptions reveal her profound emotional shift—while physically unchanged, she feels transformed by the verdict’s liberation. The daffodil imagery suggests delicate new beginnings after hardship (“longest of winters”), while the emphasis on voice and choice reflects reclaimed autonomy. Her observation that “nothing has changed, and everything is different” underscores the internal impact of legal vindication after systemic oppression (pages 449-450).2. Analyze the significance of Ruth’s interactions with Kennedy and Howard after the trial. How does their dynamic evolve?
Answer:
Ruth’s gratitude toward Howard is warm but conventional, while her exchange with Kennedy marks a pivotal power shift. When Ruth struggles to articulate her thanks, Kennedy’s casual lunch invitation and Ruth’s realization that they’re “dead even” symbolize their relationship leveling from attorney-client to equals. This contrasts with earlier tensions about race and strategy in the trial. Kennedy’s hug and Ruth’s direct eye contact (page 450) demonstrate mutual respect forged through shared struggle, reflecting the chapter’s theme of hard-won dignity.3. Why does Ruth’s return to the empty courtroom hold symbolic weight? Consider her actions and reflections there.
Answer:
The deserted courtroom becomes a space for Ruth to reconcile her past and future. Retrieving her mother’s scarf—a talisman of heritage—she envisions Edison possibly occupying authoritative roles (lawyer, judge) she was denied. Her whispered then shouted “Yes” (page 451) contrasts with her shackled arraignment, reclaiming agency through language that “breaks chains.” The silence she savors symbolizes both closure and potential, while the physical space—once oppressive—becomes a site of catharsis and imagined generational progress.4. How does the author use juxtaposition in this chapter to highlight themes of justice and resilience? Provide examples.
Answer:
Sharp juxtapositions underscore injustice and resilience: Ruth’s quiet disbelief (“It’s really over?”) contrasts with Adisa’s joyful screams; the media’s fleeting attention shifts to “another victim, another bully” (page 450), emphasizing systemic cycles. Most powerfully, Ruth’s memory of being “shackled and not allowed to speak” at her arraignment contrasts with her triumphant vocalizations in the same building. Even sensory details—the “spitting” fluorescent light versus the “light-years” of progress—frame her journey through stark opposites, reinforcing how legal victory barely masks deeper societal inequities.5. What might Ruth’s decision to decline Christina’s celebration invitation reveal about her post-trial mindset?
Answer:
Ruth’s “Rain check?” response (page 450) suggests she needs solitude to process the verdict’s emotional weight rather than immediate celebration. Having fought for autonomy throughout the trial, she now exercises the right to pause—aligning with her definition of freedom as “the right to say no.” This mirrors her later solitary moment in the courtroom, where reflection precedes catharsis. Her prioritization of connecting with family (Edison, Adisa) over socializing also hints at a re-centering of identity beyond the trial’s trauma.
Quotes
1. “Freedom is the fragile neck of a daffodil, after the longest of winters. It’s the sound of your voice, without anyone drowning you out. It’s having the grace to say yes, and more important, the right to say no. At the heart of freedom, hope beats: a pulse of possibility.”
This opening metaphor powerfully defines freedom through Ruth’s perspective after her acquittal. It encapsulates both the delicate nature of liberation and its transformative potential, setting the tone for the chapter’s exploration of newfound agency.
2. “I am the same woman I was five minutes ago. I’m rooted to the same chair. My hands are flattened on the same scarred table… Nothing has changed, and everything is different.”
This paradoxical statement captures the surreal moment of Ruth’s verdict - outwardly unchanged circumstances masking profound internal transformation. It represents the chapter’s central tension between surface reality and deep personal revolution.
3. “It’s power, I realize, and we are dead even.”
This pivotal realization during Ruth’s exchange with Kennedy marks a crucial shift in their relationship dynamic. The brief but potent observation underscores the chapter’s theme of reclaimed autonomy and balanced human connections.
4. “I close my eyes, so that I can keep this minute with me. I listen to the silence.”
This meditative moment in the empty courtroom symbolizes Ruth’s conscious preservation of her hard-won victory. The silence contrasts powerfully with earlier courtroom chaos, representing both closure and new beginnings.
5. “‘Yes,’ I say softly, because it is the opposite of restraint. Because it breaks chains. Because I can.”
The chapter’s triumphant closing lines transform a simple word into a manifesto of liberation. Ruth’s repeated “Yes” echoes her opening definition of freedom, completing the narrative arc from constraint to unbridled possibility.