The concept of scave is interesting and tell us a lot about the hero's journey. I believe all heroes have to go through this and this is represented really well in Room. Jack's reluctance to do what he needs to do for him and Ma to escape is portrayed really well in the book.
In the chapter of the escape Jack very often switches back and forth between wanting to escape and being too afraid of all the new information and stimuli he is going to experience. We see this when he says that they should wait until he is six and that they cant do the plan tonight and when he learns that Nick is going to have to touch him, he goes into a state of completely denying any possibility of the plan going through. In addition, every time he learns about something new in the plan he seems to go back in the same scared state where he wouldn't really be able to function.
Jack is also undoubtedly very brave. Even when things go wrong in the escape plan such as missing the first stop light, or being knocked over when Nick takes a turn onto a different street, he is able to recover in some way any finally get help to his mother. The most surprising form of this comes in his trying to get details to the police officer while still in shock from all the stimuli around him. He is able to get the information and remember things that Ma has told after being bitten by a dog that he didn't know could exist a few days ago and pretending to be dead. This level of bravery and being able to stay in some sort of calm state is amazing in any situation and even more amazing when you consider the fact that Jack has just turned 5 and his knowledge of the world consisted of Room.
Overall, the scave aspect of Jack journey is represented very well in the book and is something that can be recognized in pretty much all heroic narratives.
In the chapter of the escape Jack very often switches back and forth between wanting to escape and being too afraid of all the new information and stimuli he is going to experience. We see this when he says that they should wait until he is six and that they cant do the plan tonight and when he learns that Nick is going to have to touch him, he goes into a state of completely denying any possibility of the plan going through. In addition, every time he learns about something new in the plan he seems to go back in the same scared state where he wouldn't really be able to function.
Jack is also undoubtedly very brave. Even when things go wrong in the escape plan such as missing the first stop light, or being knocked over when Nick takes a turn onto a different street, he is able to recover in some way any finally get help to his mother. The most surprising form of this comes in his trying to get details to the police officer while still in shock from all the stimuli around him. He is able to get the information and remember things that Ma has told after being bitten by a dog that he didn't know could exist a few days ago and pretending to be dead. This level of bravery and being able to stay in some sort of calm state is amazing in any situation and even more amazing when you consider the fact that Jack has just turned 5 and his knowledge of the world consisted of Room.
Overall, the scave aspect of Jack journey is represented very well in the book and is something that can be recognized in pretty much all heroic narratives.
I think it's also really interesting to contrast Jack's scave experience with Odysseus' in the Odyssey as they're complete opposites. For one Jack is a small child while Odysseus is a full grown man. Jack is physically underdeveloped while Odysseus is over developed. Also while Jack is scave in terms of his great escape, and for this reason is very uncomfortable with going through with the plan. Odysseus on the other hand is too comfortable with his plan (Yelling at the Cyclops).
ReplyDeleteI think it's also really interesting to contrast Jack's scave experience with Odysseus' in the Odyssey as they're complete opposites. For one Jack is a small child while Odysseus is a full grown man. Jack is physically underdeveloped while Odysseus is over developed. Also while Jack is scave in terms of his great escape, and for this reason is very uncomfortable with going through with the plan. Odysseus on the other hand is too comfortable with his plan (Yelling at the Cyclops).
ReplyDeleteThough Jack is also similar to Odysseus through their love of using wit to overcome their opponents. The Cyclops and Old Nick were both defeated with calculated plans, albeit risky ones. I think they both share a desire for knowledge, most clearly with Jack's young curiosity.
DeleteI feel that scave is what makes Jack really heroic. Being a hero is all about doing something that you wouldn't necessarily want to do. It's easy for someone to do something that they want to do, but if doing something scares them, it's not only about the physical obstacle, but also about the mental. Being able to prepare yourself to do something that seems to be beyond your capabilities is a defining aspect of being a hero.
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