Symbolic study of the novel Midnight's Children

Thinking Activity

This blog is written in response to the thinking activity assigned by Dilip Barad sir, Department of English, MKBU. In this blog I am going to explore the symbols in the novel 'Midnight's Children'. But before that let's have a brief introduction of the novel and the novelist.

Click here to visit my blog on the introduction of the novel and one of the theme- Fragmentation, Migration and Memory

Symbols in Midnight's Children:

The novel have many symbols. But the very common thing about all the symbols are that they are within itself quiet opposite in meaning. To understand this let's first understand the greek word Pharmacon:

Plato write one finctionised conversation, Socrates talks to one of his students. He tries to convince the student that talking is better than writing. To explain his point, Socrates uses the Egyptian myth of Thoth's creation of writing to illustrate his point. Thoth shows his writing to the God-King of Upper Egypt, who thinks it can be good and bad for the Egyptian people, like a medicine that can cure or harm.

So "Pharmacon," a Greek term, symbolizes both remedy and poison. Plato's idea in "Phaedrus" is that writing is inferior to speech. Derrida argues two aspects of language: writing and speech. Writing aids memory but also kills the memory or gives us the false illusions that they are more knowledgeable. Derrida values writing as vital, highlighting how speech relies on prior thought or writing. Writing has survived our knowledge.

This conflict can be seen in all the symbols of the novel:

The Perforated sheet:

The symbol of the perforated sheet in "Midnight's Children" serves a dual purpose: it both reveals and conceals. The novel begins with Saleem gazing through this perforated sheet, andas he says, 'I am condemned by perforated sheets to a life of fragments.'

This fragmentation and partial revelation extends throughout the narrative. Just as the perforated sheet obstructs a full view, the storytelling in the novel does not reveal everything in a straightforward manner. Saleem's memories are likewise full of gaps and perforations, leaving him with an incomplete understanding of his own past.

The love between Adam Aziz and his wife is also characterized by this sense of incompleteness, as it fails to blossom into a deep and fulfilling connection. Their daughter Amina's love story follows a similar pattern, marked by fragmentation and unfulfilled longing. In both cases, love remains elusive and unsatisfying.

Even the final appearance of Jamila, as she sings, is shrouded in a veil which symbolises the preservation of her purity but also conceals her true self.

Throughout the novel, the motif of the perforated sheet plays a pivotal role, creating a sense of confusion and incompleteness, as it neither fully reveals nor entirely conceals, mirroring the complex and fractured nature of the characters' lives and experiences.

The Silver Spittoon:

The silver spittoon in the novel holds significant symbolic meaning, particularly in connection to Saleem's memory. Initially, the spittoon represents the spirit of a new India and serves as a reflection of Saleem's own identity. It was a gift from Rani to Mumtaz and Nadir on their wedding day, and they often played a game of hit the spittoon which underscored its importance in his life.

However, the silver spittoon takes on a pivotal role in the story during the Indo-Pakistan war. Saleem's family is killed, leaving him with only the spittoon as a memory. Yet, a tragic turn of events occurs when Saleem is hit in the head with the same silver spittoon. This blow results in complete amnesia for him—he forgets his name, his identity, and everything about his past.

Ironically, even in his amnesiac state, Saleem clings to the spittoon, believing it to be of great importance. Thus, the silver spittoon, initially a symbol of memory, transforms into a symbol of memory loss and amnesia for Saleem.

Pickles:

The pickles in the story also hold a dual symbolic role. Saleem is the manager of a pickle factory and chutney, and pickles serve as a metaphor for both preservation and destruction.

Pickles are traditionally made to preserve vegetables for extended periods, but the process involves a form of controlled rotting. As a result, the natural state of the vegetables is altered, and they no longer remain in their original form. Similarly, Saleem attempts to preserve his life through storytelling, like placing each chapter of his life into a pickle jar. The entirety of his narrative becomes a means of preserving his personal history.

However, this act of preservation also carries a destructive element. Just as pickles undergo changes and lose their natural state, Saleem's own life experiences invisible scars and alterations as he narrates them. The act of preserving his memories and identity, much like the pickling process, subtly transforms and even damages the essence of his being.

Knees and Nose:

Knees and noses carry significant symbolism in the story, both associated with unique abilities. Shiva possesses the power of knees, which he uses to inflict harm, while Saleem harnesses the power of his nose to uncover the city's most clandestine prostitute.

In a sense, these attributes embody a duality—they can be both destructive and creative, representing both strength and vulnerability. Shiva's use of his knees for harm contrasts with Saleem's ability to unearth hidden truths using his extraordinary sense of smell, illustrating the multifaceted nature of these symbols. 

Saleem and Shiva:

In the narrative, Saleem and Shiva, born on the momentous midnight of India's independence, stand as binary opposites. Their births were marked by a nurse's switch, and even their destinies were inadvertently swapped. Consequently, Shiva assumes the identity of Saleem, and Saleem becomes Shiva.

If Saleem is emblematic of India itself, then Shiva represents an indispensable aspect of India's history. The two are intricately connected, and their intertwined stories form a complete picture of India's journey to independence.

It's noteworthy that Shiva remains unaware of his status as a magical child born at midnight, whereas Saleem grapples with amnesia, causing him to forget his past. This contrast adds depth to their characters and their roles in the story.

I have taken help from this video of sir to write this blog.

Thanks for visiting...