Corporeal and Spatial Engagements in Emma Donoghue’s 'Room'

Abstract

Garnered critical acclaim after its publication in 2010, Emma Donoghue’s renowned novel Room delves into the lives of a woman and her son who are held captive in a confined space for several years. The room where they are imprisoned functions as a coded space in which Ma and Jack are subjected to the disciplinary power of Old Nick. The restrictive space that offers no opportunities and living there according to Old Nick’s oppressive regulations lay the basis for analysing the characters’ experiences in the work using Foucault’s viewpoints. In this respect, the exercise of Foucauldian strategies by Old Nick causes them to lose their autonomy and to damage their self. The restrictive heterotopia and the disciplinary gaze turn them into docile bodies that become mere platforms to be dominated. Even after their breaking free, the traces of the spatial limitation follow them psychologically because transitioning to different spaces further challenges their sense of identity and self-integrity. Jack struggles to adapt to the outside world, which showcases the antinomy of the private and public. In this respect, the room leaves a lasting impact on their bodies, stigmatizing them and becoming a source of trauma that needs to be addressed for their new life. The interplay between the spatial codes of the room and their bodies is complex, with each representing and transforming the other. Therefore, this study examines the complex dynamics between physical and spatial interactions that lead to traumatic consequences through the lens of Foucault’s thoughts, by revealing and examining the dimensions of the challenging conditions that trauma victims experience in order to step into the healing process.