The book Room is really quite creepy. These two people are trapped in a small room with minimal things to keep them occupied. This probably qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment. Another thing thats odd, is that there are only three characters so far. One of which is an innocent boy who doesn't understand his world, another of which is the crazy man keeping two people locked in a room while he is out experiencing the world, and the last of which is probably one the most unfortunate people in the world. This last one, Ma, was captured and brought to this small room to be what can be seen as a sex slave for her captor, old Nick. She also has her 5 year old son who is beginning to question and ponder the world around him which has been kept secret from him for all his life.
I think that Ma is in one of the most unfortunate positions possible. She has no idea how to explain the outside world to Jack, but she is realizing that she has to. I think it might have been easier for her if she just told Jack the truth from the beginning, but she may have kept that from him to protect him from being too curious and possible interacting with old nick, exposing him to bad influences. She has to deal with the same stuff day in day out, trying to keep Jack entertained and provide him with what little education she can. Remarkably, she has done a great job with this so far. jack knows how to read and write, and is beginning to learn how to count. Given the circumstances I am amazed. Ma, so far is the true hero. The suffering hero that does not get the recognition she deserves for the troubles that she has.
Ma should be nominated for mother of forever for her dedication to Jack. She puts up with everything that is thrown at her just for the safety and well-being of Jack. All the abuse, the boredom, she might even be clinically depressed. I know i would go bonkers, but Ma has a drive that cannot be replaced. I can only hope things get better for her as the story progresses.
Ma's patience and gentleness as a parent is actually incredible. Being confined to such a small area and still being an amazing parent to a hyper 5 year old is pretty admirable. When I babysit, after two hours of a 5 year old's insistent questions, I get annoyed. Imagine Ma having all these unanswerable and saddening questions from Jack that she has to somehow answer.
ReplyDeleteI agree that so far, Ma is the hero of Room. I think Jack is likely to do something heroic soon, but I think I will always consider Ma the hero. She raises Jack in this terrible environment and makes sure he's well educated, while she's battling depression and her kidnapper. I don't think I'd be anywhere near that strong, and I have no doubt that she'll continue to be this strong for the sake of her son.
ReplyDeleteThis is a weird book. Whenever I go to read it I kind of have a mysterious feeling, kind of feeling creeped out by the setting and how Ma and Jack are able to operate in that setting. I also agree that Ma is very heroic. She has been able to withstand a five year old asking so many questions 24/7. Personally, I would be annoyed. In fact, I kind of get annoyed when he asks so many questions in the book.
ReplyDelete"Cruel and unusual" is right, although it's not "punishment"--which makes it even more cruel and unusual. Before Jack is born, Ma is essentially kept in solitary confinement, which many critics would say does constitute "cruel and unusual punishment" and has all kinds of detrimental psychological effects on the inmate. The way Ma describes her utter despair and depression (letting her teeth rot out of her head) in those first few years certainly reflects some effects of solitary (compounded further by the violent abuse she suffers). But Jack's arrival makes her confinement less solitary, and his existence gives her a reason to live. It's hard to overestimate Jack's effect on Ma, in other words. He can be a trial, at times--as can all 5-year-olds. But without him, Ma would literally not be "Ma"; she would just be that "other name," alone and unknown.
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