Unfortunately Room is not just a story for some. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, thousands of children are reported missing every year. This includes Jaycee Dugard, who was abducted, raped, and imprisoned for 18 years. Here is a shortened version of her interview with Diane Sawyer after her rescue:
Jaycee's story correlates to that of Ma in the novel Room. Both women were impregnated by their abusers and began to raise children in captivity. To Jaycee and Ma, their children are what keep them alive and hopeful. When asked about why she did not try to escape with her daughters, Jaycee says "They were safe." Ma also made Jack's safety her main priority, "I'd wait as long as you need if I thought we were safe. But we're not" (Donoghue 114). This shows the strength of maternal instinct even in the most dire conditions and the selflessness of mothers when it comes to their children. It is heartbreaking that situations like these exist, but literature such as Room and A Stolen Life (written by Jaycee Dugard) are powerful because they help bring awareness to this issue.
"Key Facts." About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2014.
"Stunning Moments From Diane Sawyer's Interview With Jaycee Dugard." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
"Key Facts." About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2014.
"Stunning Moments From Diane Sawyer's Interview With Jaycee Dugard." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.