Topic > Novels of Novelty and Rebirth: 'Room', 'Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded' and 'Robinson Crusoe'

The idea of ​​rebirth and newness is a central theme of the novel 'Room' and a major factor of the story itself. The novel is all about novelty, as for Jack, having lived all of his five years of life in the Room, the act of escaping into the World is in a sense a rebirth, and in the novel we learn that Jack is initially completely unable to function . in The World, because his development has been severely hindered by his upbringing, which is why basic everyday objects like cars or the sidewalk are so completely alien to him, Room is a novel about rebirth and living again in a strange world. However, while the newness of the world when exiting the Room is the most obvious point to mention, there is a more subtle sense of newness that will be explained; the need for Jack and Ma to invent new games, stories and ways to pass the time in Room to ward off the madness and boredom, which is an integral part of the first half of the novel. Finally, the idea of ​​novelty is questioned in a postmodernist sense as the narrative itself reflects the situation of the two main characters within it; the first half of the novel is confined, restrictive and very repetitive, but after their escape, the narrative changes and becomes more open and in the same way that the characters experience new things, so does the reader as the prose takes us to new places and exciting. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayThe formative years of childhood are a learning experience for them, where they experience the world and begin to develop socially and emotionally, where a child might encounter new experiences. When a child is denied the normal method of development, this can leave him or her severely stunted, as in Jack's case, so as mentioned in the introduction, Jack is constantly experimenting with new things, but for the first 5 years of his life his entire life The world consisted solely of the Room, which later turned out to be a small shed with a skylight. This, combined with the child's natural curiosity, makes the first act of the novel a surprise, especially because the novel is told through Jack's point of view, so we readers hear his internal monologue. Jack constantly asks his mother questions; questions about television, questions about its origins, questions about what is real or not, in one case where Jack decides that "the mountains are too big to be real", but of course later in the novel he will experience all these objects outside. of television. In contrast to his questions at the beginning of the novel, it is interesting to mention his realization of the world outside the Room, on page 85 of my edition, Jack states "so hospitals are real too, and motorcycles" before proclaiming "[ his head will explode with all the new things I have to believe.”2 This is an important quote because not only does it illustrate how overwhelming all this new reality must be for a 5-year-old, but the language itself is remarkable: " I have to believe it." To elaborate, Jack cannot inherently believe in everyday places and objects that exist outside of his room, yet he feels he must believe, which seems like a matter of faith, specifically, faith in his mother's word , as Ma, who grew up in The World, knew for sure that there is more to life than what is contained in the Room, and she told it to Jack through parables, tales, and evocations of her youth narrative view, Ma embodies the outside world and Jack personifies a "blank slate" unshaped and unshaped by theexternal world. Ma is a particularly interesting character to watch when you consider that Ma had a life before she was kidnapped by Old Nick who destroyed her, so her return to the world is a true rebirth and differs from Jack, while Jack experiences things for the first time, Mom rediscovers them after years, as she tells Jack during the hospital shower scene, “I'm just trying to enjoy my first shower in seven years”3. There is a notable juxtaposition between Jack and Ma's attitudes, Jack wants to stick to the routine he learned while in the Room, while Ma no longer feels obligated to conform to the same schedule they had during captivity. “Breakfast comes before bath” Jack says on page 164, he conforms so rigidly to his preconceived idea of ​​routine and cannot fathom doing anything different, but consider how at the end of the novel Jack begins to adjust to his new existence , surely Jack is not a so-called “feral child” like some real-life cases like “Genie” who tragically never adapted to reintegrate into society, thus establishing the novel as a story of regeneration, similarly for Ma. Yet, although Jack finds it more difficult to adapt to the outside world, it is his mother who attempts suicide. This exemplifies the mental torment that must have been inflicted on Ma, whose life was taken away when she was just a young adult. Once again, from a narrative perspective, her suicide attempt is representative of the process that will lead to the eventual and inevitable "rebirth" in the novel's conclusion, and also provides the opportunity for Ma and Jack to be separated, for the first significant time. amount of time in the novel, thus providing the reader with a glimpse of Jack coping without mom, someone he has literally been without his entire life. It all contributes to the ever-forming independence and novelty that is omnipresent everywhere. The idea of ​​rebirth could also be made for the character of Mr. B in Samuel Richardson's epistolary novel Pamela, however, unlike Jack and Ma in Room, it is not a physical rehabilitation, but a moral one, and even this is perhaps nebulous , but when it comes to Mr. B in Pamela, one can see him as a lecherous man who tries to take advantage of Pamela, yet at the end of the novel he is supposedly transformed into an honorable and dignified husband. In fact, in one of the final letters Mr B is defined as a "generous husband", for the less cynical, this could be interpreted as a comment on the redemptive power of love. It certainly refers to the full title of the novel itself, 'Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded', as Pamela is 'rewarded' with a husband and a stable income for maintaining her purity. She "enjoyed... the reward of his virtue, piety and charity". Both novels explore the idea of ​​being reborn, whether in a religious, moral, or physical sense. Literary critic Janice Harayda, paraphrasing Sue Donoghue, comments on how Room uses religious allegory to convey its themes, how the novel is "a battle between Mary and the Devil for the young Jesus" and this is believable, considering the connotations of the name "Old Nick". Furthermore, the idea of ​​rebirth connects to the fundamental beliefs of Christians, such as Jesus died and was born again. Once again, if you confuse the idea of ​​rebirth and that of religion, that is, rebirth as religious transformation, then Robinson Crusoe presents these themes. prominently, as the entire novel can be read as a religious allegory with Robinson Crusoe avoiding his sinful past and ultimately becoming a devout believer in God. At the beginning of the novel, Crusoe disobeys his father by going to see against his father's wishes. As Crusoe says "if I took this foolish step,God wouldn't bless me." Even after encountering a storm at sea and receiving a warning from the ship's captain, Crusoe still ventures out in search of wealth and adventure, so his “imprisonment” on the island takes on the role of a kind of emotional purgatory. From a religious point of view, Crusoe makes a grave mistake when he “made many vows…that if God would…spare his life on this journey…[he] would go straight home to [his] father . ”. He blatantly disobeys this prayer and forgets “the vows and promises that [he] made in [his] anguish.” Throughout the novel, there are events that, if one interprets the book through a religious lens, could be a test of faith from God, and indeed there are many instances where Crusoe questions God, after landing on the island , Crusoe considers suicide due. to “the sad prospect of [his] condition],” but then seems to accept his fate, and in that peculiarly English way, continues onwards and upwards with a stiff upper lip and makes the best of it. The rebirth aspect comes into play around page 63 in my edition of the novel, when Crusoe really begins to have genuine faith in God and “Nature's wonder.” Robinson Crusoe transforms as a man, learning to love the island as “the pleasantest place in the world,” the arc of redemption is very prominent. If Old Nick is seen as the figure of "God" in the Room, while Jack learns to live away from him, his authority and the Room, Crusoe in contrast abandons his rebellious ways and at the end of the novel is grateful to God for his misfortunes. and is a devout believer. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, and a sense of newness are explored in Room, Crusoe, and Pamela, with Room focusing more on adjusting to life after a traumatic event and reintegration into society, and in Pamela, the most similar rebirth to a religious conversion, which manifests itself in a spiritual/moral sense. For Jack in Room, his departure from captivity allows him to explore this vast new world of possibilities with childlike surprise. Jack's character arc establishes that he is able to leave the Room and fully embrace his position in the new world. Mom even asks him if he "would like the door closed for a minute," to which Jack replies "no." This solidifies his decision to move forward and is a sign of notable progress and maturity, further demonstrating the theme of rebirth prevalent throughout the novel, as this is where the Room simply becomes a room. It allows both the reader and the protagonists a sense of closure suited to their ordeal. While Room and Pamela certainly have religious overtones, Robinson Crusoe is the novel with the most obvious religious narrative, as the story decisively portrays one man's spiritual redemption amid the horror of the tropical island's overwhelming, collective misery. Although in line with Mr. B in Pamela, not only is Crusoe's redemption exclusively religious, but also moral. We can therefore see how in each novel there is a sense of newness, and a rebirth of many kinds; ultimately, leaving each character inexorably changed by the end of the narrative. Bibliography Emma Donoghue, Room, Kindle edn ([np]: Picador Classic, 2010). Business Insider, The Heartbreaking Story of Genie, a Wild Child Who Will Never Learn to Communicate (2015) [accessed November 9, 2015].Samuel Richardson, Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded, 1890 edn (London: Milner & Company, 1740). Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe, 2003 edn (1719) Janice Harayda, Emma Donoghue's 'Room,' a Resurrection Allegory (2015) [accessed 9. .. 315)