Table of contents:-
Personal Information
Assignment Details
Abstract
Keywords
Introduction
About Salman Rushdie
Introduction of Novel
Thematic analysis of Novel
Conclusion
References
Personal Information:-
Name:- Divya Bharatbhai Jadav
Batch :- M.A.sem 3 ( 2024- 2025)
Email Address:- divyajadav5563@gmail. com
Roll number:- 7
Assignment Details:-
Topic:- Thematic Analysis of Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
Paper 202: Indian English Literature – Post-Independence
Subject code:- 22407
Submitted to:- Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar
Date of Submission:- 20 November 2024
About Assignment:- In this assignment I will try to define Thematic Analysis of Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
Abstract:
Salman Rushdie's novel Midnight's Children is a thematically rich work that explores the connections between history and individual experiences, the impact of colonialism and neocolonialism in India, and the themes of fragmentation, migrancy, and memory. This paper aims to delve into these themes and shed light on Rushdie's skillful integration of Indian history with the life of the protagonist, Saleem Sinai. The novel captures the political turmoil and violence that characterised India's early independence, and Saleem's personal journey is intricately intertwined with the events shaping the nation. Through various historical and personal incidents, Rushdie emphasises the profound link between the individual and the larger historical context. The novel also critiques British colonialism and its long-lasting effects on India, portraying characters such as Methwold as symbols of exploitation and moral degradation. Rushdie exposes the myths of British superiority and the neocolonial games played by the British to create dependence among the Indian population. Furthermore, the theme of fragmentation, migrancy, and memory is explored through Saleem's experiences as a migrant and his struggle to reconcile his divided identity. Rushdie highlights the sense of homelessness and anxiety experienced by migrants and their complex. relationship with their homeland. The novel's fragmented memories and migratory patterns depict the challenges faced by individuals caught between multiple worlds. Rushdie challenges the notion of objective history and portrays it as subjective, unreliable, and easily manipulated by contemporary regimes. Through a unique narrative style that blends heroism and absurdity, Rushdie underscores the limited agency of individuals in opposing powerful systems. Overall, "Midnight's Children" presents a thought-provoking exploration of history, individuality, colonialism, and the complexities of identity in a postcolonial context.
Keywords:
Salman Rushdie, Midnight's Children, Themes
Introduction:
Salman Rushdie was born with a silver spoon in his mouth on June 19, 1947 in Mumbai, toNegin and Anis Ahmed Rushdie. He was the eldest of four siblings. Along with his three sisters,He grew up in Mumbai. He lived in England from 1961 to 2000 except for brief visits to India and Pakistan; So far, he has been married four times. At present, he is living in the United States.This paper aims to enlighten the reader about the historical and individual connection in the novel Midnight's Children. Salman Rushdie skillfully connected Indian history with the life of Salman Sinai, The Protagonist of Midnight's Children.
The concept of Midnight's Children was derived from the political turmoil and persistent danger of violence that characterised the country's first three decades of independence. This is the most widely recognised book written by Salman Rushdie. Saleem, the protagonist of Midnight's Children, was born on the verge of independence, and the developments in his life were intimately related to those of both India and Pakistan.
Midnight's Children written by Salman Rushdie explores recurring themes such as the interplay between history and individual experiences, the impact of colonialism and neo- colonialism in India, and the consequences of migrancy, fragmentation, and memory.
About Salman Rushdie:
Salman Rushdie is a prominent British-Indian author known for his complex, layered narratives that blend magical realism with historical and social commentary. Born on June 19, 1947, in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, Rushdie grew up in a Muslim family before moving to the UK for his education. He gained international acclaim with Midnight's Children (1981), a novel that explores India's journey post-independence through magical realism. The book won the Booker Prize and has been celebrated as a landmark in English literature.
Other notable works by Rushdie include The Moor's Last Sigh, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Shalimar the Clown, and The Golden House. His writing style often incorporates elements of surrealism, myth, and folklore, resonating with postcolonial themes, and exploring the cultural intersections between the East and the West.
Introduction of Novel:
Midnight's Children (1981) by Salman Rushdie is a celebrated postcolonial novel that tells the story of India’s journey from colonialism to independence through the life of Saleem Sinai. Born at the exact moment of India’s independence, Saleem discovers he has telepathic powers and a deep connection to other "midnight's children" – those born within the first hour of freedom, each possessing unique abilities. Blending magical realism with historical events, the novel portrays India’s diverse culture, political upheavals, and the challenges of nation-building. Rushdie uses humour, fantasy, and rich symbolism to explore themes of identity, memory, and the impacts of colonialism. The novel has won several awards, including the Booker Prize, and is celebrated for its innovative narrative style and profound cultural insights.
Thematic analysis of Novel:
1)THEME OF HISTORY AND THE INDIVIDUAL
Salman Rushdie crafts a vital connection in Midnight's Children between Saleem, the protagonist of the story from the beginning, and India's past; Saleem was described as being "mysteriously hand-cuffed to history, my destinies indissolubly chained to those of my country. For the next three decades there was no escape" (Midnight's Children, p.9). Rushdie masterfully weaves together the events that occur in independent India on a political and historical scale with the personal events that take place in Saleem's life alongside those of his family.
Saleem's involvement in the Indo-Pakistani War in 1971 and his role in the language riots in the 1950s can both be attributed to him. Then, in 1975, at the "Emergency" event which Indira Gandhi declared to spare herself from being jailed over proven corruption allegations after the elections, she imprisoned her political opponent and violated the democratic rights of the people. Similarly, many occurrences are endowed with personal and historic significance. On their trip from Kashmir to Agra, Saleem's grandparents Aziz and Naseem Sinai stopped at Amritsar, where Aziz witnessed the Jalianwallabagh Bagh slaughter first hand. As Aziz says in the novel:
“As the fifty one men marched down the alleyway (to the Jalianwallabagh Bagh) a tickle replaced the itch in my grandfather's nose. The fifty one men enter the compound and take up positions, twenty five to Dyer's right and twenty five to his left...A Brigade Dyer issues a command the sneeze hits my grandfather full in face" (Midnight's Children, p.36)
2)THEME OF COLONIALISM AND NEOCOLONIALISM IN INDIA
Midnight's Children is "considered an example for postcolonial literature and magic realism " In Midnight's Children Rushdie attacks British Colonialism and its representatives symbolised in characters such as Methwold with a ruthless clarity and makes every attempt to link up many of the ills an Independent India to the mischief played by the British during their reign. Ii
and populated by the fisher folk called the -is earliest inhabitants. Rushdie describes how this primaeval world was overrun by different invaders beginning with the Portuguese who used the harbour to shelter the merchant ship and their men-of-war. This was followed by the East India company led by an officer named William Methwold who successfully realised a vision of a British Bombay when in 1668 the East India Company did get its hands on the island. The worst sufferers were the fisher folk as the invaders changed the very character of the city. Regret and nostalgia marks Rushdie's narration in his chapter, as if would like to put the clock back.
3)THEME OF FRAGMENTATION, MIGRANCY AND MEMORY
V.D, Bhatnagar records that "the novel can be seen as a novel of immigrant experience and thus a product of the authorial displacements"
In the 20th Century, people started migrating from the non-white countries to the white countries. It was around the 1950s that these migrations began for economic reasons. The trend has continued in the 21" century mainly because of the IT boom in the west.
However, that was not all; Third World writers have been migrating to the metropolitan capitals of London, Paris and New York to find a market for their works because readers in the third world- would not support them. Thanks to the impact of colonisation on their psyche, most educated people in the non-white in former colonies felt that the great traditions of "culture" and "civilization" existed only in the west and that their literatures were superior to our own. The writers similarly looked for intellectual stimulation and encouragement in the "ideal" environments of the west, while some writers actually migrated from the third world, others like Raja Rao and Rushdie went to study in western universities and then stayed on for the same reason. Migration is not a simple phenomenon.
Conclusion:
Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children" is a thematically rich and intricately crafted novel that delves into the interplay between history and individual experiences, the impact of colonialism and neocolonialism, and the themes of fragmentation, migrancy, and memory. By connecting the protagonist's personal journey with the historical events shaping India, Rushdie highlights the inseparable bond between the individual and the larger historical context. The novel also critiques British colonialism and exposes its enduring effects on Indian society. Through the lens of Saleem's experiences as a migrant, the novel explores the complex relationship between the homeland and the sense of belonging. Rushdie challenges the notion of objective history and emphasises its subjective and manipulative nature. With its blend of heroism and absurdity, Midnight's Children offers a thought-provoking exploration of identity, agency, and the complexities of postcolonial existence.
References:
https://www.gradesaver.com/midnights-children/study-guide/themes
V. D. Bhatnagar, Readings in Indian English Literature, New Delhi, Harman Publishing House, 2001. p. 127
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