Room

Content Warning: This section contains depictions of rape, violence, suicide, child endangerment, abuse through neglect, stillbirth, and imprisonment.

Jack is the five-year-old protagonist and narrator of Room. For the first three chapters, Jack spends all his time with Ma in Room. Jack has spent his entire life in Room, and he believes everything outside of Room’s walls is outer space. Jack believes everything he has seen on television is fake to the point where he is not even sure if other little boys and girls exist. In his isolated life, Jack has personified the items in Room and formed bonds with them. This is evident in his attachment to Rug and Wardrobe. Although Jack knows Old Nick visits most nights to squeak the bed with Ma, Jack does not understand of the greater implications of his living situation until Chapter 2, when Ma reveals to Jack that she was stolen and locked up in Room, and they begin to plan their escape.

Jack’s love for Ma helps him be brave for their escape plan, but his biggest challenges come once he and Ma are free. Jack does not understand why they cannot go back to Room to sleep and gather their things.