Room Essay

Humans are reflectance from their surroundings. C Wright Mills, a notable sociologist, believes, "What ordinary men are directly aware of and what they try to do are bounded by the private orbits in which they live; their visions and their powers are limited." Mills believes people are constrained in life based on their established habits due to social compliance. Emma Donoghue presents the social challenge of conformity, and society's critiques on life, in, The Room. An isolated child and a forsaken mother encounter severe aggravation when crossing to the other side of, "Door". The Room exposes, through the main characters' developments, how pressures and critiques from society can make an individual conform, and lose themselves.

Jack symbolizes individuality and purity. He is a figure, in which, society has not touched. Donoghue stresses his advanced brilliance, as well as, his superior comprehension numerous times throughout the book, which is unlike many children his age. His higher skills make him unique. Since, Jack was born into a constrained environment; he looks different compared to 5-year-old boys. Jack has long hair and is far skinnier than many, which causes problems later in The Room.

When Jack is revealed to the world, his identity is hurt right away. The man who saved Jack, acknowledged him as a girl, leaving Jack off on the wrong foot in the new world. When entering the Hospital, Jack is harassed by media, and doctors. His easy overstimulation from people was no help to his coping of the new world. Paparazzi had constantly tried to catch a mere glimpse of Jack. His fresh mind had been tainted by the newspaper, when called a monkey for his inability to climb stairs. His surroundings changed so fast, and his adaptation, at the moment, was slow. Letters from people who have sent gifts pour in, and this is when Jack first shows greed. His decision to take six toys instead of five demonstrates pressures from others changing his state of mind to want more. His mother, whom had been a wonderful mother the past five years, goes through a mental breakdown, and leaves Jack to figure the world out on his own. Jack first leaves his mother's side when going with his uncle to the museum. This is where another act of greed comes about. Jack wanting the Dora backpack makes him act out, similar to how his cousin acts. This behavior is not corrected, comparable to when he hits his grandmother.

Jack's grandmother is who allows Jack to develop into a respectable citizen. She takes him to the park, library, and stores for human interaction. His encounters' do not go normal because he is once again called a girl, makes a boy cry, and talks to strangers. Jack's grandmother does a great job of giving her insight to matters, and disciplines Jack from time to time. His moment of acceptance to, "I as in everyone." (Donoghue 171), arrives when Jack cuts his hair. Jack's