Hakuna Matata

After getting to know more about the characters in Room, I can’t help it but make a connection between Jack and Old Nick. They are completely different people in every way, but they do share one common trait. In terms of symbolism, Jack is the hope and savior for Ma. Jack gives Ma someone to love and care for during her imprisonment. Ma would have gone insane if it wasn’t for him. For example, Ma was a TV addict before Jack was born. She didn’t have anything to do or anything to look forward to as her life was filled with hopelessness. Only when Jack was born did Ma begin to live again. She started caring about more personal hygiene and staying off of the TV more. In contrast to Jack, Old Nick is the all evil character. This psychopath/sociopath kidnapped Ma when she was 19 and not mention that he had already built Room prior to the kidnapping. He kept her locked up for 7 years, sexually abused her every day, and killed Ma’s first-born.   Ther...

In “A Lesson Before Dying”, there’s a sense that every character has his or her own role to play within the story. For example, Grant’s role is to be a teacher to his own students and Jefferson, Tante Lou’s role is to take care of Miss Emma including Grant, and Jefferson’s role is to learn that he is a man. However, one character that has an unclear role is Reverend Ambrose. He does have the same role as Grant, but he’s ineffective within his role. He is unable to make a connection or have any influence on Jefferson. All the while he criticizes Grant for basically doing what is asked of him. As if Reverend Ambrose is annoyed at Grant, he keeps pushing him to do things that Grant doesn’t want to. Take chapter 27 for example, he tells Grant to teach Jefferson the words of God as he says, “This is a mean world. But there is a better one. I wish to prepare him for that better world. But I need your help”, knowing that Grant is not a religious person (Gaines 214).  Personal...