Room Emma Donoghue Analysis

In her novel, Room, Emma Donoghue incorporates the many physical and mental health effects of living in captivity for an extended period of time. While physical ailments such as vulnerability to disease and malnutrition quickly come to mind, mental disorders such as post traumatic stress disorder and depression are far more deleterious to the characters.
A person held in captivity endures severe trauma in many forms, physical and emotional, both during and after the period of confinement. Depending on the degree of neglect and abuse to which she is subjected, physical symptoms can range from minimal to catastrophic. Michelle Knight, a victim of the Ariel Castro kidnappings, was “starved for weeks at a time and punched in the stomach to induce

several miscarriages” (NY Daily News). Deprived of the opportunity to receive routine medical treatment and preventive care, a victim is also susceptible to illness, malnutrition, and other conditions that would otherwise be easily treatable.
The mental consequences to a captive are typically far more detrimental. From the moment of abduction, a hostage is besieged by the fears and uncertainties that lay ahead for her. Among the significant emotional effects that an adult might manifest are: fear and anxiety, anger, disorientation, and depression. The psychological severity of being kidnapped is likened to exposure to terrorist incidents and other disasters (Alexander and Klein 16-21). Consequently, it is not surprising that victims would suffer extreme psychological repercussions both during and after their imprisonment. “Hostage survivors may feel lost or have difficulty managing intense reactions and may need help adjusting to their old life following release” (Hanbury). For example, following release from her long-term abduction, Michelle Knight became estranged from her family and went into seclusion (NY Daily News).