The characters in this book are each very unique. Like I said in class, I think that Jack is a good character because he's so young and innocent. He genuinely doesn't know what is happening around him in this tiny box of a room and just cares about the well being for his mom. Sure he seems like a handful when he barrages his mother with questions but I feel like that is just normal for children his age. Especially because of the strange situation Jack is in with his mom being the only person he really can talk to.
Ma and Uncle Nick are an interesting pair and it seems the further we get into the book, the more interesting they become. Mr. Mitchell made a point in class about how Uncle Nick is the cruel provider with the option to just not bring home food if he doesn't get what he wants or physically abuse Ma and Jack. We've seen him do it once to Ma so I wonder if this will happen more later on in the book as we learn more about them. Right now I'm really looking at the development in the characters and their relationships between one another and as a group.
I think it's really incredible that Ma is able to maintain Jack's innocence. With Ma being raped nearly every night, she is somehow still able to wake up and be an amazing mother to Jack. Old Nick's position of power is one that is terrifying to those at his mercy. It is unclear if he will cut food, or worse.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you pointed out that any jerkish behavior that Jack exhibits can probably be chaulked up to his just being five years old. In fact, he strikes me as a decently well behaved five year old. He doesn't have explosive temper tantrums and is pretty kind to Ma. Perhaps this is a more positive effect of living in an environment with no outside stimuli.
ReplyDeleteJack is very innocent in this whole situation. Despite the circumstances, Jack seems like a normal child in every aspect except for the fact that he has not seen the outside world. Credit goes to Ma for raising Jack so wonderfully, maintaining his innocence. But I feel like Ma will get the blame (Jack will get angry at her) for not telling Jack when/if he finds out about the world surrounding Room.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you that Jack's heart is in the right place. There haven't really been any situations when Jack has wished ill on anyone. Though I guess he does threaten to "hurt" Ole Nick which would mean that he threatened half of he's ever met but I think we can all agree that it was with good reason. He definitely does have his annoying moments but I think those can be overlooked because I'd be amazed if I ever met a five year old that wasn't bratty at any point in time.
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