Small Mercies

Throughout the course of the novel Lehane interweaves the effects of organized crime and racism to emphasize the power that both maladaptive social forces wield over life in South Boston. How does he show these two elements to be two distinct parts of one social system? Use specific examples from the text to prove your point.

How does the Jules who is alive in the initial chapters compare with the assembled memories of Jules after her death? How does Lehane deliberately alter his depiction of her over the course of the novel?

Compare Mary Pat to the other women of Southie. In what ways is she similar or different to the women with whom she has spent much of her life? What are the specific factors that ultimately make her an outsider?