The other day I was reading about Kali Kirkendall, more popularly known as Kali Muscle. He is a professional bodybuilder as well as a youtube personality who became well known through his story of going from an ex-convict to a successful and well known personality. "X-con to Icon" as he likes to call it, Kali spent 7 years in prison for armed robbery. In prison he became a part of a gang which required him to be intimidating physically. In other words, he had to pretty much to look like a guy that no one would mess with, and that's what he did.
When Kali got out of prison, he knew he had to make a change, being in a fully confined facility for 7 years, the first thing he thought was "now what?". He wondered how he is going to start living an ethical and honest life and contribute to society, especially after being outside of the normal world for so long.
When i put Kali's story in line with Room by Emma Donoghue, I found there to be quite a lot of similarities in terms of what Kali deals with after leaving prison, and what Ma deals with after leaving Room. In the last section of the book, we find out that after Jack and Ma escape from Room, Ma ends up overdosing on sleeping pills and is very depressed.
"Then I see Ma's pill bottles open on the table, they look mostly empty." (249)
I feel like Ma got out of Room too suddenly, the transition wasn't very smooth. Now of course anyone in Ma's position would've made the same decision as her about leaving Room right away, there's no question about it, but the psychological impact on Ma was devastating. Much of which was accounted to the media and her parents.
"He [Grandpa] wants me not born." (259)
Although Kali did not have quite the same experience, he was also heavily criticized by the media (Youtube), experiencing a lot of hate and jealousy coming from people. Kali got through this by not paying attention to negative comments and just doing his thing. Similarly, after her treatment, Ma is in good shape and she moves to an apartment with Jack. They get away from the media and her parents' criticism.
When it comes to Jack, he has his own struggle with being introduced to the world at the age of 5. He has a very hard time trying to fit in and understand how things work in the 'real world'. He is still "learning about boundaries" (288).
"I think I'll give him a hug. I do it too fast and knock him down, he bangs on the train table and cries." (288)
When i put Kali's story in line with Room by Emma Donoghue, I found there to be quite a lot of similarities in terms of what Kali deals with after leaving prison, and what Ma deals with after leaving Room. In the last section of the book, we find out that after Jack and Ma escape from Room, Ma ends up overdosing on sleeping pills and is very depressed.
"Then I see Ma's pill bottles open on the table, they look mostly empty." (249)
I feel like Ma got out of Room too suddenly, the transition wasn't very smooth. Now of course anyone in Ma's position would've made the same decision as her about leaving Room right away, there's no question about it, but the psychological impact on Ma was devastating. Much of which was accounted to the media and her parents.
"He [Grandpa] wants me not born." (259)
Although Kali did not have quite the same experience, he was also heavily criticized by the media (Youtube), experiencing a lot of hate and jealousy coming from people. Kali got through this by not paying attention to negative comments and just doing his thing. Similarly, after her treatment, Ma is in good shape and she moves to an apartment with Jack. They get away from the media and her parents' criticism.
When it comes to Jack, he has his own struggle with being introduced to the world at the age of 5. He has a very hard time trying to fit in and understand how things work in the 'real world'. He is still "learning about boundaries" (288).
"I think I'll give him a hug. I do it too fast and knock him down, he bangs on the train table and cries." (288)
Since Jack grew up in Room and learned everything he knows now in it, he kind of misses it, he even asks Ma to visit it for one last time.
"Good-bye, Room." (321)
Saying good-bye to Room was a huge step to a fresh start for Ma and Jack. I feel like it was needed. That was the missing piece of the puzzle, the part that makes up for the fact that they had no smooth transition into getting back to the 'real world'. Maybe that's how Kali felt too.. maybe when he was walking away from the prison doors after 7 years, he looked back, and said,
"Good-bye, St-Quentin."
If all Kali needed was to leave his past behind and start fresh, maybe that's what Ma and Jack needed as well. If this story were to have one more chapter, how would you imagine it?
"Good-bye, Room." (321)
Saying good-bye to Room was a huge step to a fresh start for Ma and Jack. I feel like it was needed. That was the missing piece of the puzzle, the part that makes up for the fact that they had no smooth transition into getting back to the 'real world'. Maybe that's how Kali felt too.. maybe when he was walking away from the prison doors after 7 years, he looked back, and said,
"Good-bye, St-Quentin."
If all Kali needed was to leave his past behind and start fresh, maybe that's what Ma and Jack needed as well. If this story were to have one more chapter, how would you imagine it?