Bayani, Danielle Ann V. 11- St.

Louis
Arts and Design Sir Thimoty Romero
Room: A book that breaks boundaries

Similar to Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, The book discusses
serious and adult themes as it is told in a perspective that is of a child. Based on or probably
‘inspired by’ the true and shocking case of Elisabeth Fritzl, Room tells the story of a five-year-old
kid, named Jack, who grew up in an eleven-by-eleven space, to which he and his mother, “Ma”
named “Room”. To Jack, Room is his home, a safe haven, but to Ma, Room is a prison cell where
she has been held for seven years.

Emma Donoghue wrote Room in a psychoanalytic approach as the story focused on how the
character thinks but in a very accurate way. This is done very well with Jack’s character as it
perfectly depicts how children would take in what they see and how they would interpret the things
they don’t understand. In describing the lives of these two captives in this tiny room, Donoghue
exercises as much, if not more, imagination than most creators do.

The book tackles themes like isolation, fear and maternity then manages to project those themes
exceptionally well. In addition to that, it captures the feeling of uneasiness and longing as the
reader goes along the pages even though it was written in a limited narrative scope. Jack’s mother,
Ma, is such a truly remarkable character, making sure that her son grows up to be a bright and
healthy little boy, despite the tragedy associated with their situation. Pretending that their life is
somewhat close to normal, Ma creates a daily domestic routine with her son as a coping mechanism
for her isolation.

The important highlights of the book are cleverly written in separate parts. The first part gives the
reader a glimpse on how Jack and Ma live their lives in an eleven-by-eleven space, which seems
quite simple and innocent at first, but slowly turns into something terrifying and haunting. It shows
how Ma is constantly in fear of what Old Nick will do to her or Jack whenever he visits Room.
For instance, when Old Nick brings Jack a toy Jeep as a birthday present, Jack cannot recognize
Ma’s fear of what will the man expect in return from her for such a gift.
When Ma tries to tell Jack that she was stolen by Old Nick from Outside then was trapped in Room
seven years ago, things then turn into a chilling and heart-breaking way as Jack refuses to believe
a word Ma says since he views Room as the entire world and the thought of other “real” people
existing asides from him and Ma, seems to be a very ridiculous notion.

Soon afterwards, freedom is finally achieved by the two, but isn’t as fulfilling as expected. Ma and
Jack are still tied to their past as they are both emotionally and physically scarred. Ma has to endure
an intense dental surgery, while Jack, before he can go outside, must wear all sorts of protective
clothing. Jack was presented too much of freedom too soon and for him who grew up in the
confines of a single room, an entire world of freedom is literally too much to process. However in
the end, with time, they both learn how to adapt with the people in the Outside and after their first
and final visit to Room, they set their foot out of the door and finally learn to how move on with
their lives.

Overall, the premise certainly works as a kind of horror novel as Jack’s innocent depiction of life
inside Room whereas Ma tries to shield her son of her being a victim of a horrible crime. The
writing here is wondrously made, and Emma Donoghue makes what could be an over-the-top plot
into a character based and all too plausible story. It’s creepy and chilling and terrible and intriguing
and kind of sweet. But mostly, it's all kinds of messed up.