The Room Essay Questions

What role does the concept of security play in The Room?

The theme of security features prominently in The Room. Rose's connection to her room serves as the primary means through which Pinter examines this theme. To Rose, the room provides safety and shelter from the uncertainty and potential dangers of the outside world. During her conversation with Bert, Rose repeatedly emphasizes how much she values their warm and comforting room, expressing unease at the thought of living in the damp basement or venturing out into the cold. However, Rose's sense of security is disrupted when the Sands inform her that a man in the basement revealed that her room will soon be vacant. Riley's appearance further threatens Rose's security as he urges her to leave the room and "come home," a proposition that carries connotations of death.

What is the significance of the communication problems presented in the play?

Pinter employs the theme of miscommunication throughout The Room, using it to generate both humor and unease. In the opening scene, Rose converses with her husband, Bert, who does not react to her words, implying he has learned to disregard her talkative nature. Later, when the landlord arrives, his conversation with Rose is characterized by misunderstandings and unanswered questions. Similarly, Rose's dialogue with the Sands is full of communication issues that encourage laughter but also a feeling of unease. Miscommunication also arises during Rose and Riley's conversation, as the two trade fragmented lines back and forth as they draw closer to an inevitable but uncertain conclusion. Ultimately, Pinter leaves the blank spaces left open by miscommunication to be filled by the audience's interpretation of what they are witnessing.

What does "the room" in which the play is set symbolize?

In The Room, the titular room serves as a symbol of Rose's existence. Throughout the play, Rose extols the virtues of her one-room flat, finding comfort and security in its warmth. In contrast, the outside world and the damp basement represent danger and uncertainty. The importance of the room as a symbol is emphasized when Rose remarks that leaving it would be "murder"; this reveals her fear that the outside world poses a threat to her existence. When the Sands inform Rose that Riley claimed the room was going vacant, she becomes alarmed, and adamantly insists the room is already occupied. Finally, when Riley demands that she "come home," Rose reacts with desperation, as though leaving the room would be akin to dying.

To what effect does Pinter use bewilderment in The Room?

Bewilderment is a significant theme in The Room. Although Pinter initially establishes Rose's mundane life and seemingly trivial fixations, a sense of unease gradually undermines the stability of her existence, bringing her toward a state of bewilderment. While there are many instances of bewilderment arising from miscommunication, the first significant instance occurs when the Sands inform Rose that a man in the basement mentioned her room is vacant. Rose's confusion deepens when she confronts Mr. Kidd and discovers that the mysterious man in the basement has requested her by name. Pinter takes the narrative in a surreal direction with this bewildering revelation, confounding the audience with the play's final events. Despite the utter confusion, Pinter invites the audience to interpret the symbolism of what he has presented. In this way, bewilderment serves as a tool to explore the play's deeper meaning.

What does the basement of the rooming house represent?

The basement in Mr. Kidd's rooming house serves as a symbolic representation of the afterlife in The Room. Rose and the Sands perceive the basement as dark, damp, and ominous, creating a sense of foreboding. The mysterious stranger Riley emerges from this eerie environment, asking Rose to "come home." Rose mentions that she and Bert were once offered a room in the basement, but she declined because the damp walls posed a threat to their well-being. In the latter part of the play, Pinter reinforces the basement's symbolic connection with the afterlife by portraying Riley as a Grim Reaper figure who appears to want to take Rose with him to the underworld.