INDEX

1. AIM AND OBJECTIVE

2. SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS
3. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
4. HYPOTHESES
5. METHODOLOGY
• CHAPTERIZATION
• 1.INTRODUCTION
• 2.PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF CONFINEMENT
• 3.PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP
• 4.PSYCHILOGICAL RECOVERY AND REINTEGRATION
• 5.CONCLUSION
• 7.WORK CITATION
• AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The objective of this research paper on Emma Donoghue’s Room is to undertake a

thorough psychological analysis of the themes presented in the book. More
specifically, the study will focus on the psychological effects of confinement, the
dynamics of the parent-child relationship during captivity, coping mechanisms and
adaptation techniques, and the process of psychological recovery and reintegration
following escape.
• Scope and Delimitations
• The scope of this research paper on Room by Emma Donoghue encompasses a
qualitative analysis of the psychological themes portrayed in the novel, focusing
specially on the impact of confinement, the dynamics of the parent -child
relationship in captivity, and process of psychological recovery and reintegration
following escape.
• The paper aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the themes, drawing on
relevant psychological theories and literary analysis to deeper our understanding of
the human psyche and it’s resilience in the face of adversity.
• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The protagonist of Emma Donoghue’s book “Room” is a little child named Jack who
has spent his entire life imprisoned in a tiny room with his mother, Ma. The story’s
central issues are Jack’s restricted perspective of the outside world as a result of his
confinement and Ma’s actual captivity, which is being held by a guy known only as
Old Nick. Their struggles to adapt to their circumstances and, in the end, break free
from captivity, serve as the central themes of the narrative. Living difficult
circumstances and the bond between a mother and her kid are among the subjects
it addresses.
• ABSTRACT

This psychological analysis explores Emma Donoghue’s novel “Room” by Ma and

Jack, focusing on their resilience, trauma, coping mechanisms, and the
psychological consequences of imprisonment.
With regard to the psychological effects of early childhood experiences and the
perseverance displayed under difficult circumstances, Jack’s growth in this
restricted setting provides valuable insights. To investigate how people adjust, cope,
and create meaning in the face of adversity, the research draws on ideas from
developmental psychology, psychoanalysis, and trauma theory. It illuminates the
intricacies of human psychology under stress by examining the wider effects of
space, trauma, and resilience on mental health and personal development.
 • LITERATURE REVIEW

Room by Emma Donoghue has truly opened up a wide range of opportunities for
researchers. Room has been the subject of extensive study with each and every viewpoint
from several researchers.

There has been some previous research done in relation to this. I will discuss two of these.

The first is done by (Arief Budi Harsanto). Ma’s Sadness; A Psychoanalytic Study in Emma
Donoghue’s Novel Room(2010).

This study attempts to examine the meloncholy that preceded Ma, the protagonist of
Emma Donoghue’s novel the Room. This research examines the grief that led to trauma for
the main character in Emma Donoghue’s novel, Ma in the Room.

This research intends to explore the experience of Ma in the Room. Using psychoanalytical
theory, the researchers examines the psychological issues Ma encountered. The method
employed in the study was descriptive qualitative. The internet and the book Room are the
data source used in this study.

The second, research is done by dr.R.A Trivani Desyara,Zulfan Sahri. Psychological Effect of
Captivity to the Protagonist in Emma Donoghue’s novel Room. The writer will focus on
Jack’s psychological impact from confinement, keeping the preceding issues in mind.

The writer seeks to comprehend individual’s and groups through general principles case
studies. The writer restricts the psychological impact because the conversation primarily
addresses mental health issues like trauma. Even if psychological issues are viewed as
unimportant,it does not mean that someone can not commit suicide or other deadly acts.
The purpose of the research is to amuse readers.

Previous research differs significantly from the current study. The above researchers
analysed Room from different perspectives. Consequently, the analysis of Emma
Donoghue Room: A Psychological Study is fresh.
• Hypotheses
• Some hypotheses that could be explored in the Room by Emma Donoghue:
• Individual’s who experience prolonged captivity such as Ma and Jack in Room.
• The parent -child relationship in captivity will be characterized by a strong bond.
• The process of psychological recovery and reintegration following escape from
captivity.
• The psychological impact of confinement.
• Methodology
The methodology for conducting a psychological study of Room by Emma
Donoghue would involve a combination of qualitative analysis of the text and
theoretical framework from psychology.
The research’ primary data are from Emma Donoghue’s Room as the primary
source of this research.
The data are supported by secondary sources, journal, books .
The data are gathered from several steps .It started from library visits, source
reading ,note-making and then data categorising.
 • CHAPTER :1 INTRODUCTION

Room by Emma Donoghue was shortlisted for the Booker prize which was great decision
on the part of the book judges considering what this book is about, it has also been
shortlisted for orange prize, the very prestigious orange prize.

It is an extraordinary book by Emma Donoghue,it is about a woman who has been captured
and kept held captive in a room for over 5 years probably 6 years and sea has with her small
son Jack who has been born in the room.

Emma Donoghue has researched the fretful case and Austria and other cases Young
woman who have been abducted and held against their will obviously and survived. she
can deal with all the awful side of that by telling the story through the voice of Jack and
Jack is the most delightful little boy his extraordinary.

He is very clever he has no understanding that there was a world outside room and his
mother, Ma he calls her as his whole world. They do have television screen but he sees
everything on the television screen as make believe and reality is here in the room with him,
it's a marvellous example of child rearing. Ma is brilliant she is young woman who
abducted when she was 19 now about 25 now and she has done a brilliant job of rearing
Jack. he is clever ,he is articulate she teaches him all sorts of things they have their
routines. A lot of games she teaches something through games and they have a lot of fun
together.

One of the regular things they do everyday is stand up on the table and bash the pots and
the pans ,he just thinks it's fun and making music and exercise he has no understanding of
course the only window in the room is skylight above them. I need to tell you that they do
escape halfway through the novel the escape is absolutely heart stoppings you think it
could so easily fail but they do escape and the second half of the novel is dealing with the
real world it's an absolutely brilliant psychologically fascinating novel and I think a very
courageous novel shortlisted for both Booker prize and orange prize.

Room is expected to be one of this year’s biggest literary bestsellers.

Room was published in August 2010, and it received numerous literary awards that year.
Certainly Emma Donoghue’s breakthrough novel, but it appears to have been influenced by
Josef Fritzl’s incarceration of his daughter Elizabeth, as well as the cases of Natascha
Kampusch and Sabine Dardenne.

The novel tells the narrative of a captive mother and her child surviving under horrible
conditions and subsequently adjusting to real life.

The first half takes place exclusively within the 12-foot square room where a young woman
has spent the last seven years since she was taken at the age of 19.

She was raped repeatedly and now has a five-year-old son named Jack, and Donoghue
relates their story via his voice.

The choice of a child narrator allows the reader to see the world from a new and innocent
perspective.

This technique emphasizes the pain that Jack and Ma have experienced, as Jack is unable
to completely comprehend or communicate the horrors of their predicament.

The author has stated that her focus was not in writing about the side consequences of
such trauma, but in the deep link between mother and son and their survival and
adaptability to society.

The room is split into five sections that reflect his developmental phases as he views his
surroundings during and after confinement.

The tone of the story is somber and introspective, reflecting the severity of the subject;
nonetheless, there are moments of humor and tenderness in the novel that keep the tone
balanced.
Jack, five years old, lives with his 26-year-old mother in a secure single-room outbuilding
that includes a small kitchen, a modest bathroom, a closet, a bed, and a television.

He believes his universe is the only one that exists.Jack feels that the Room and its
contents, which include Ma and himself, are real.

Ma’s unwillingness to disappoint Jack with a life she cannot provide leads him to assume
that the rest of the world only exists on television.

Room has a more nuanced sense, indicating both protection and confinement. The
television is Jack’s window to the outside world and source of entertainment, as he
believes that his world is the only one that exists.

Jack is ignorant that Old Nick kidnapped Ma when she was only 19 years old and has held
her captive for the past seven years.

Jack is the result of sexual assault.

The narrative concludes with an analysis of parents, social norms, normal schooling, and
the media’s mistreatment of such people.

Donoghue is a multi-layered novelist who places her characters and novels in Ireland, the
United Kingdom, and the United States, making them belong to the eighteenth or
nineteenth centuries.She has succeeded in exploring universal themes rather than national
issues.She lived in several nations such as Ireland, France, the United Kingdom, and
Canada, which, according to her, “has basically weakened my regional ties, giving me a
more free floating imagination.”

One of the most significant achievements of Donoghue’s Room is the ability of people in
such situations to overcome distress and possibly gain from it.
Donoghue’s story might be viewed as an examination of the phenomena of resilience,
which is a psychological construct that explains how, in the face of extreme hardship,
humans can develop an unexpected capacity to cope with pain and suffering.
• CHAPTER: 2. PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF CONFINEMENT

The story of Jack and Ma, who are imprisoned in Room, a tiny, soundproof shack, is
explored throughout the book.

The psychological effects of imprisonment play a significant and important role in

Emma Donoghue’s novel Room. Their kidnapper, Old Nick, is a continual menace,
which causes them to feel fear, anxiety, and distress.
Their horrific experiences’ in the Room have an impact on their mental health. Ma
and Jack both display signs of trauma as a result of their imprisonment. Their
confinement has varying effects on their relationships, behaviour, and perception.
Such is their incapacity to build relationships and trust outside of their small area.

Ma makes an effort to keep Jack happy and healthy by exercising both mentally and
physically, maintaining a good diet, and setting time limits for viewing TV.

In order to provide Jack a sense of normalcy and control while he is in Room, Ma

establishes a regimen that includes physical activity, educational classes, and
imaginative play.

Jack uses only his imagination and the stories his mother tells him to help him deal
with the constraints of their surroundings.
Even in the most trying circumstances, they manage to discover various forms of
happiness and togetherness in the shadows of their imprisonment. Ma and Jack
both exhibit resilience in that they were able to adjust and endure their ordeal of
being in captivity. His poor comprehension of the outside world stems from their
confinement and his difficulty grasping the idea of an external reality outside of the
room. His unusual psychological growth is impacted by Ma’s attempts to shield and
instruct him.

People may encounter extremely stressful situations at some point in their lives,
which may cause them to suffer from severe discomfort, significant strain, or
trauma. While some people may experience post-traumatic stress disorder or other
pathologies as a result of these intense events, many others not only learn how to
face and cope with adversity, but even overcome it.
Positive adaptation achieved by boldly overcoming obstacles with one’s own
psychological resources. Despite the lack of socialization, Jack has had an
exceptionally stimulating and loving upbringing—two essential elements of a child’s
healthy growth. Despite the fact that his confinement literally reduces his
microcosm, his mother feeds him imagination with songs, rhymes, and stories. He
also uses his creativity to brighten his mind by coming up with a hundred inventive
applications for inanimate, worthless objects. She limits the amount of TV he can
watch at once, shielding him from the excess that rots our brains.

Given that she was only 19 when she was abducted and that she was in difficult
circumstances, she presents a sensible mother who would protect her child from
harm that knowledge of a different life could bring, as well as satisfy his needs by
giving their daily routine purpose and improving their physical and mental well-
being.

One interpretation of the relationship between the father and son is that of love and
hatred, or an Oedipus complex.

The Oedipus Complex, as described by psychologist Sigmund Freud in his book

“Interpretation of Dreams,” is a phenomenon in which children appear to have fallen
in love with one parent and grown to hate the other.
According to Freud, the emergence of the libido and ego, as well as the phallic stage
of psychosexual development (ages 3-6), coincide with the Oedipus Complex.

Certain critics claimed that Donoghue’s writing style, which is based on her
personal experiences and reality, is a direct reflection of her own life. This is evident
in her novel Room, which details her relationship with her lesbian partner and
adopted children.
The tragic hero Oedipus, who in Sophocles’ eponymous play unintentionally sleeps
with his mother and then murders his father, suggests that every kid passes through
a phase between the ages of 3 and 5 where it physically desires its opposite sex
parent while attempting to kill its same sex parent.

The book is Freud's first significant attempt to explain his idea of the dynamic
unconscious, which he developed in childhood and which permeates every dream.
Fruit dreaming is a mental process that identifies its mechanism and proceeds
logically. Additionally, Freud shed new light on the unconscious mind and its potent
influence on human existence.
According to Freudian theory, the human mind is divided into two parts: the
conscious and unconscious minds. The conscious mind is made up of all the things
we can easily bring into awareness and are aware of, while the unconscious mind is
made up of all the things we are not aware of but still have an impact on our
behaviour, such as desires, hopes, and memories.
It Is rare to see children displaying any form of sexual desire, and we are unlikely to
recall any instances in our own lives that even closely resemble what fruits propose
as a universal fact.
Dream interpretation must strive for a closer connection with the rich material of
poetry and common idiom, as well as a more faithful dealing with the relationships
of dreams to nervousness and mental breakdown.
According to Freud, dreams are the outcome of mental processes. In the first phase,
unconscious forces create a wish, which is then expressed in the dream. In the
second process, censorship forcibly distorts the wish’s expression.
 • CHAPTER:3 PARENT -CHILD RELATIONSHIP

Ma has developed characters from every component of their room, including their
wardrobe, rug, plant, and melting spoon. They have a television, and Jack like Dora the
Explorer, but I limit the amount of time they can watch it for fear of turning the beer brand
into mush.

Every morning, they exercise physically and keep to a strict diet. Notably, mother has an
apparently boundless supply of stories, ranging from the Berlin Wall and Princess Di to fairy
tales like Hansel and Gretel to hybrids in which Jack becomes Prince Jackerjack, Gutter
Jack, and Lilliput, his mother’s own fairy tale hero. Lady Gaga and Kylie are included in the
times makeup poems.

To encourage Jack’s growth in the space, Ma uses a variety of parenting techniques. Ma is

the only defender who prioritizes Jack’s welfare before her own. She served as his nurse,
caregiver, and shield when he needed it most. Their bond reflects a strong sense of
dependency. While Jack is able to read through his mother’s emotional states and her
ignorance when she becomes upset with their captor’s behavior and punishment, Ma uses
a variety of techniques to assist Jack’s development in their chamber. Old Nick, Ma seems
to be depressed and doesn’t seem to like eating, which teaches Jack how to create food
and comprehend her emotional state.

Jack was raised to think that their home and its surroundings were the actual world, and
that the magical things they saw on television or in their dreams were only found in space.
“Boys are on TV, but they kind of resemble me—the fake version of myself that’s only a
picture.”(54) Ma and Jack develop a close relationship and understanding despite being
confined to a limited space. The company of one another gives them comfort. Jack gets all
of his emotional and physical requirements from Ma.

Because of the restricted surroundings and stunted psychological development, the

Room’s isolation causes tension and conflict.

She establishes a regimented schedule to support his mental and emotional development
by having him play and instructing him through tales.

Jack says he hates his biological father and is devoted to his mother. Old Nick’s actions
greatly terrify him, to the point where he wants to kill his father. The actions of Old Nick,
who frequently tortures his mother and longs to be apart from her, including his constant
desire to sleep with her. Nothing else he can do but count the creaks in the bed. Jack’s
mind was shaped by Old Nick to be rebellious since he spent all day with his mother but
used to sleep in his clothes at night since Old Nick would come over and share his bed with
her.

Jack, who is five years old, is still breastfed and devoted to his mother. For this reason, he
hates everything that stands in their way. To Jack, Ma represents the entire world; he has
never met anyone outside of the family, so everything he perceives as real is actually unreal
and he can only meet Ma.

Ma is a kind person who tries hard to provide for her child.

In order to foster a stable attachment between parent and child, attachment theory
emphasizes the significance of closeness, sentivity, and responsiveness. This framework
helps explain how their link develops. During their brief separation, he completely lost
memories of his mother and realized for the first time that she wasn't there.

By actively taking part in the plan to escape the room where they are being held and saving
his mother from his kidnapper, Jack and Ma’s relationship in Room is typified by sacrifice,
love, and trust.The more a child is alone and confined to a cot, the more furious their
protest becomes, but the weaker the environment and the more care they receive from a
single mother.

There is no behaviour that evokes a stronger emotional response than attachment

behaviour; the people it is aimed towards are loved and their arrival is met with excitement.
A child feels safe as long as their primary attachment figure is present and unchallenged. A
thread of loss can cause worry and true loss grief, which may also stimulate anger.
• CHAPTER: 4.PSYCHOLOGICAL RECOVERY AND REINTEGRATION

Ma and Jack’s healing process depends heavily on the assistance of their friends,
family, and mental health specialists. For Ma and Jack’s psychological healing and
reintegration to be supported, therapeutic intervention is necessary. Both Ma and Jack
struggle with the psychological fallout from their imprisonment and exhibit signs of
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Traumatic events have intentional effects on people’s lives, which can result in the
development of pathological disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). On
the other hand, virtue and resilience traits can help people avoid harm and promote
adaptation in the form of post-traumatic growth (PTG). The connections between
virtue, PTSD, PTG, and attributes of resilience in the aftermath of trauma have not
received much attention in research.

Trauma has a favourable association with PTSD, whereas resilience has a negative
association.

Ma and Jack’s psychological healing and reintegration following captivity are important
themes in Emma Donoghue’s Room. Despite the difficulties they confront, Ma and Jack
display strength and perseverance on their path to rehabilitation.
Donoghue has stated that her objective when writing the novel’s second half was to
portray Ma and Jack as oddities.

Jack, who had never suffered anxiety or sleep difficulties previously, is suddenly
disturbed by nightmares at the hospital and insists on returning to his room.

“In room I was safe and outside is the scary” (219).

Jack’s physical and psychological development has been harmed by his upbringing in
an unhealthful atmosphere. According to psychologists, resilient people do not go
through a phase of dysfunctionality like those who recover spontaneously after one;
instead, they continue to operate normally despite going through a traumatic event.

Compared to adults, children are better able to develop a resistance against resilience
and have fewer behavioural issues after negative experiences because they tend to
interact more and because the symptoms gradually go away.
They are plagued by intrusive recollections, nightmares, and flashbacks of their horrific
encounter in the room.

The tragedy leaves a deep psychological mark that profoundly alters their behaviour,
perception, and interpersonal relationships. They undergo counselling and treatment
to deal with their PTSD symptoms, process their trauma, and develop coping
mechanisms to control their psychological anguish. In the wake of captivity, therapy
offers a secure environment in which they can process their feelings and ideas, mend
from injuries, and start over.

In order to face their pain and find a clear path to healing and reintegration, they find
strength in their relationship with one another. To get over the difficulties of
psychological healing and reintegration, they rely on the affection and support of their
social circle.

Ma and Jack’s psychological healing and reintegration in Room is a complicated and

multifaceted process.
The novel closes with mother and son bidding farewell to Room, indirectly suggesting
to readers that, in spite of their vulnerability in their new reality, the resilience they have
cultivated in the face of their adversity will provide them with safety in the hostile
environment they now find themselves in.
The word "attachment" evokes up a rich history of theory and research that quantifies
the extent to which young children are ill enough to keep a primary caregiver inside,
displaying distress upon separation and enjoying their reunion primarily for the value of
her presence rather than the satisfaction of their bodily needs.
The Impact of separation on a child’s growth and the psychopathology that frequently
accompanies separation are examined in Dr. Bowlby’s second landmark volume. The
opposite of the attachment phenomena is the feeling of separation and resulting
anxiety or anger, and fear.

Little children’s dreams are usually just wish fulfilments, which makes them very
uninteresting when compared to adult dreams, where there is always a problem and a
solution. However, they are significant in demonstrating that dreams are fundamentally
just films of wishes.
• CHAPTER:5 CONCLUSION

The research paper on Emma Donoghue’s “Room” provides insights into

psychological topics like trauma, coping strategies, resilience, and confinement
effects on mental health. It highlights the psychological costs of confinement, Ma
and Jack’s resiliency, and societal challenges.
The psychological topic of resilience trauma and human connection in the face of
extreme adversity is explored in Emma Donoghue’s novel Room. Through the stories
of Ma and Jack, the book examines the psychological effects of captivity and the
human spirit’s ability to fight back from adversity.
Jack has to hide in the closet and listen as they get into bed when Ma’s kidnapper
walks into the room in the evening. Beyond simply a victim and survivor tale, Jack’s
story delves into the themes of infant development, the significance of language,
and storytelling.
Through a Freudian lens, “Room” examines the psychological experiences of its
characters Ma and Jack, emphasizing how their imprisonment is a manifestation of
their id urges, leading to coping mechanisms and protective strategies.
Room ultimately underestimates the resilience and capacity of the human spirit to
grow and thrive even in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Through its investigation of
psychological topics, Room asks readers to consider the depths of the human
psyche and the complexities of the human experience.
• REFERENCE
1. Donoghue ,Emma. Room, London: Picador, 2010.
2. Freud, Sigmund .The Interpretation of Dreams.New York: Avon Books, 1920.
3. www.scholar.google.com
4. W. James.The Principles of Psychology.New York :Cosimo,2007.
5. Bowlby John.1969. Attachment and Loss: Attachment Hogarth, London.
6. < www.google.com>
7. www.theguardian.com
8. www.wikipedia.org
9. MLA. Donoghue, Emma, 1969-. Room : a Novel. New York :Back Bay Books, 2011.
10. Donoghue, Emma. 2011. Room. New York, NY: Little, Brown & Company.