Room Part 4: After Quotes

Room Part 4: After Quotes

How we cite the quotes:
[Part.Paragraph]

Ma

Quote 4

"It would have been a sacrifice, of course—the ultimate sacrifice—but if Jack could have had a normal, happy childhood with a loving family?" "He had me." Ma says it one word at a time. (4.1345-4.1346)

Ma is insulted by the talk show host, who implies that Jack would have been better off with a "loving family." Ma is his mother. Shouldn't she be family enough? And doesn't she love Jack enough?

Ma

Quote 5

"Not just children," says Ma. "People are locked up in all sorts of ways." (4.1319)

Ma is irritated about having to talk about her captivity on TV, because she knows that others have been through it and are going through it all the time. She isn't special. She's talking about both literal captivity—whether it's other girls like her, or the slaves of the past—and the figurative captivity that comes from, say, being in an abusive relationship. Everyone wants to break free of something, and that is why so many people identify with Ma and Jack and their plight.

Ma > Jack

Quote 6

"Will we go explore?" "Where?" "Outside." "We're in Outside already." "Yeah, but let's go out in the fresh air and look for the cat," says Ma. (4.247-4.251)

Jack doesn't yet understand that there are different versions of Outside. For him, being cooped up in a hospital is a world of difference from being cooped up inside Room. But for Ma, being cooped up anywhere is still being cooped up… she wants to be in the outdoors, and she wants to convince Jack to come with her.