Small Great Things
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1, Ruth Chapter 2, Ruth Chapter 3, Turk Chapter 4, Ruth Chapter 5, Kennedy Chapter 6, Turk Chapter 7, Ruth Chapter 8, Kennedy Chapter 9, Turk Chapter 10, Ruth Chapter 11, Kennedy Chapter 12, Ruth Chapter 13, Kennedy Chapter 14, Ruth Chapter 15, Turk Chapter 16, Kennedy Chapter 17, Ruth Chapter 18, Kennedy Chapter 19, Ruth Chapter 20, Turk Chapter 21, Kennedy Chapter 22, Ruth Chapter 23, Turk Chapter 24, Kennedy Chapter 25, Ruth Chapter 26, Kennedy Chapter 27, Ruth Chapter 28, Turk Chapter 29, Kennedy Chapter 30, Ruth Chapter 31, Turk
Themes
All Themes Racism: Hate, Fear, and Grief Institutional Racism Belonging and Community Family and Shared Humanity The Justice System and the Politics of Speech
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Ruth Jefferson Turk Bauer Kennedy McQuarrie Brit Bauer Edison Mama Francis Mitchum Rachel / Adisa Christina Ava Howard Raine Tesco Wallace Mercy Davis Bauer Violet Odette Lawton Judge Thunder Ms. Mina Marie Corinne Micah Juror Number 12 Sam Hallowell Adele Turk's Mother Tanner Gramps Dr. Atkins Tom Metzger Turk's Father Bryce Yorkey
Symbols
All Symbols Rain The Photograph Mama's Scarf Wine
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Small Great Things

by

Jodi Picoult
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Marie Character Analysis

The charge nurse in the labor and delivery department of the Mercy-West Haven hospital. She's only been at the hospital for ten years and she and Ruth were both in the running for the charge nurse position, but Ruth doesn't resent her for getting it. Ruth implies that Marie is kind and normally a good friend, but Marie chooses to honor Turk's request that Ruth not touch Davis. Ruth fixates on Marie's sticky note saying that no African American staff are to care for Davis and believes that Marie kept her from doing her job. When Marie testifies during Ruth's trial, Ruth realizes that the two weren't actually true friends.

Marie Quotes in Small Great Things

The Small Great Things quotes below are all either spoken by Marie or refer to Marie. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Racism: Hate, Fear, and Grief Theme Icon
).
Chapter 14, Ruth Quotes

"The fact that I'm Black was never an issue in my relationship with my colleagues."

"Not until they needed a scapegoat. What I am trying to say, Ruth—may I call you that?—is that we will stand with you. Your Black brothers and sisters will go to bat for you. They will risk their jobs for you. They will march on your behalf and they will create a roar that cannot be ignored."

Related Characters: Ruth Jefferson (speaker), Wallace Mercy (speaker), Mama, Marie, Corinne
Institutional Racism Theme Icon
Belonging and Community Theme Icon
Page Number: 226
Explanation and Analysis:
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Small Great Things PDF

Marie Quotes in Small Great Things

The Small Great Things quotes below are all either spoken by Marie or refer to Marie. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Racism: Hate, Fear, and Grief Theme Icon
).
Chapter 14, Ruth Quotes

"The fact that I'm Black was never an issue in my relationship with my colleagues."

"Not until they needed a scapegoat. What I am trying to say, Ruth—may I call you that?—is that we will stand with you. Your Black brothers and sisters will go to bat for you. They will risk their jobs for you. They will march on your behalf and they will create a roar that cannot be ignored."

Related Characters: Ruth Jefferson (speaker), Wallace Mercy (speaker), Mama, Marie, Corinne
Institutional Racism Theme Icon
Belonging and Community Theme Icon
Page Number: 226
Explanation and Analysis:
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