The Room by Emma Donoghue is a brilliantly executed novel. It is a study of child development and resilience. At its heart, however, it is a celebration of the relationship between a parent and a child. Through the eyes of a five-year-old boy, Room tells the story of how a mother and child can remain in contact and live out their lives despite unimaginable tragedy.
As the novel opens, Jack is about to turn five. He is living in a tiny room with his mother, Ma. While Jack knows nothing about the world outside of the room, he has been taught that everything in it is real. However, Jack does not realize that his mother sees the room as a prison. When the two children are kidnapped by a stranger, the world that they live in changes.
When the family is reunited, Jack’s brother Paul and his girlfriend, Deana, are able to join them. This is not the first time the family has experienced separation. In fact, Ma has been imprisoned in the room for the past seven years.
Although the author draws inspiration from actual events, the book is primarily a tribute to the power of love. Jack is the product of sexual abuse. His mother was abducted in her early twenties. She was forced to live in the room with her son. But as the two grow up, the relationship between the parents deepens.
The novel also examines the ramifications of a parent’s imprisonment. Though Ma has been able to live with her son for five years, she still suffers from the loss of her freedom. Eventually, she tries to commit suicide. Fortunately, she is able to escape the room.
Even in the confines of the room, Jack finds a way to experience freedom. A stranger approaches him and calls the police. During the interview, Jack’s mother is able to convince the stranger that her son is dying. Soon, he is able to say goodbye to his mother before leaving the room.
Once he is free, Jack is able to learn that there are other worlds to explore. He begins to question whether he is truly living in the Room. Eventually, he learns that his mother is a prisoner. There are other people who can be trusted, but he cannot believe that his mother can be trusted.
Room is a remarkable book, full of emotions and a sense of humor. However, it is also a disturbing story. The innocence of a child is shattered by the discovery that his mother is a prisoner. One of the greatest surprises in the novel is the way that Jack grows into an adult who no longer believes that his mother is the real human being he is surrounded by.
Although this novel was originally inspired by the story of a woman who was incarcerated in a cellar with her daughter, the story is more than a victim-survivor tale. It is a testament to the power of motherhood and resilience.
