Art's "Impression" on Room
Sean Tinsley
Irish Literature
12/02/2013
Prof. McClintock-Walsh
Art’s “Impression” on Room Room, by Emma Donoghue, is a thrilling tale that has captivated me and surprised me with its depth as well. The complex relationship between Jack and Ma is both inspiring and somewhat disturbing. However, I believe that is the true beauty of the story. What was most intriguing to me were the allusions to art: “Impression: Sunrise”, “La Guernica”, and “The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist”. As the reader learns more of Jack’s situation and the need to escape it, the reason Donoghue includes these works of art becomes clearer. For this paper I will use the allusions within the text to these paintings as well as outside resource of analyses of these works of art. Jamie Yurasits writes in “Analysis of Claude Monet’s Impression, Sunrise”, “This usage of a noticeably bright color draws attention to the main focus of the painting, the sun.” I believe this is important on many different levels. Jack knows about the sun, but as the reader knows, Jack views things outside of Room as quasi fictional. Also I believe the title of the art is important to the story because Jack has never seen a sunrise. Therefore, the only thing Ma can show him is an impression of one. What better impression of a sunrise can she show him than Impression, Sunrise? Yurasits also mentions, “Numerous vertical elements can be found throughout this hazy landscape”. Perhaps this is alluding to the way the eye is drawn from the small mass in the bottom of the frame, the two people in the boat, to the larger world surrounding; much like the understanding of Jack and Ma from the reader’s perspective. Furthermore, I plan to extensively research each work of art and tie them in with quotes and examples from the literature. I will also use in class discussions about these pieces if that is ok. If not, I will use what I can. As of now, I believe I can produce a tentative
Irish Literature
12/02/2013
Prof. McClintock-Walsh
Art’s “Impression” on Room Room, by Emma Donoghue, is a thrilling tale that has captivated me and surprised me with its depth as well. The complex relationship between Jack and Ma is both inspiring and somewhat disturbing. However, I believe that is the true beauty of the story. What was most intriguing to me were the allusions to art: “Impression: Sunrise”, “La Guernica”, and “The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist”. As the reader learns more of Jack’s situation and the need to escape it, the reason Donoghue includes these works of art becomes clearer. For this paper I will use the allusions within the text to these paintings as well as outside resource of analyses of these works of art. Jamie Yurasits writes in “Analysis of Claude Monet’s Impression, Sunrise”, “This usage of a noticeably bright color draws attention to the main focus of the painting, the sun.” I believe this is important on many different levels. Jack knows about the sun, but as the reader knows, Jack views things outside of Room as quasi fictional. Also I believe the title of the art is important to the story because Jack has never seen a sunrise. Therefore, the only thing Ma can show him is an impression of one. What better impression of a sunrise can she show him than Impression, Sunrise? Yurasits also mentions, “Numerous vertical elements can be found throughout this hazy landscape”. Perhaps this is alluding to the way the eye is drawn from the small mass in the bottom of the frame, the two people in the boat, to the larger world surrounding; much like the understanding of Jack and Ma from the reader’s perspective. Furthermore, I plan to extensively research each work of art and tie them in with quotes and examples from the literature. I will also use in class discussions about these pieces if that is ok. If not, I will use what I can. As of now, I believe I can produce a tentative