Sunday, March 22, 2009
Discussion #4: Question
Book One ends with the birth of Saleem and the beginning of India's independence. As one of "Midnight's Children", Saleem has a special connection with his country, including a special knowledge of things that happened before his time. In what ways does Saleem use this knowledge throughout his life, in the telling of his story?
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I think that Saleem uses this knowledge in telling about everything that happens before his birth. It lets him tell the reader all about the other characters, such as his mother and grandfather. It also lets him tell the reader about all the problems facing India that led up to his birth. It makes it so that the reader can understand everything about India, because Saleem knows everything and there is no gap in knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Christin and I like how Christin said that because of Saleem's knowledge there is no gap in our knowledge of the story. I think Saleem's special knowledge is for the benefit of the reader so we always know exactly what's going on and what has previously happened in the story because it is this knowledge that tells us the story of Saleem's ancestry and without Saleem's knowledge and attention to detail the stories would be much more bland and wouldn't benefit the reader as much.
ReplyDeleteI wish we could learn more specifics about Saleem's gift. I love his detailed descriptions and stories, but I want to know how he knows these things. I get the feeling that Rushdie isn't going to tell us. He tends to explain things in a really roundabout way. It makes me wonder if he gave Saleem this infinite knowledge just for convenience, so he could tell the story better.
ReplyDeleteI agree Marcella, I wish he would tell us more too. It's weird because in setting descriptions and descriptions about the characters and their personalities, Rushdie is so specific and precise. However when it comes to other stuff, like things about Saleem that have to do with his gift he is so vague and it sort of leaves you wondering. I think he does this because Saleem's infinite knowledge is supposed to be sort of mysterious.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he has infinite knowledge. I believe his powers let him read minds (even dead ones) and through this he can fill all the gaps by switching whose mind he reads.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't actually thought of that, but it is sort of contradictory that he's so detailed in some respects, but in others he's very vague. It's an effective way of telling the story, though. It makes us want to keep reading, to see how the characters, who we understand, deal with Saleem's gift, which we don't understand. I guess Rushdie is trying to get us to infer things, using what we know about characters and places to figure things out about that which he keeps mysterious.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's part of Saleem's character to intentionally withhold certain information. He certainly has a flair for the dramatic. It would be fitting for him to try to be dramatic and build up suspense as he tells his story.
ReplyDeleteI suppose you're right Marcella, it would be a really boring book if Rushdie was really detailed about everything and didn't leave some things for us to infer. For example in the beginning we had to infer a lot because it was like, who's Padma? Why is he going to die? However as we get farther it seems that he releases information little by little, but we still have to infer some. It seems like Saleem is much more reluctant to tell us about himself though and a lot more ready to tell us about his parents and grandfather's stories.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Rushdie has Saleem give background and historical information so that readers receive a solid idea of the time period in which the story is taking place. Especially because (a) Saleem was born on such a significant date in history for India, and it'd be silly not to. And (b) because it is important to know the events the lead up to the independence of India, and essentially the birth of Saleem, as Christian said. An author really can't tell a good story that actually has substance and a complex character such as Saleem without giving the reader the information that made them that way.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in response to Marcella, and Greer; Maybe Rushdie is not trying to be cryptic or suspenseful. Maybe he is revealing information about Saleem gradually by giving the reader a good idea of the other characters and the history behind everything so that in the end, he can tie up loose ends give us a banging ending. An ending that actually has to do with the plot rather than having to do with uncovering more details about the characters. I understand that most of the plot is actually focusing on characteristics of the characters but nothing really exciting has happened action-wise.
ReplyDeleteSaleem definitely uses the knowledge to clue in the audience about important facts that need to be known to understand his story. I think we get a really good understanding of why he tells us what he does during the part where he recaps everything right before his birth. That section really helps to understand why we need to know everything and why he uses his knowledge to tell readers the relevant information and how it ties in with the rest of the story and his life.
ReplyDeleteWhat I think really makes a book interesting is when the author answers a question but then creates more questions. Rushdie can really do this well.
ReplyDeleteRushdie has to keep the curiosity and attention of the readers! The only thing is, he can't evoke too many questions. He won't be able to answer them within the course of the book if he does!
ReplyDeleteI agree Adam. Rushdie is so vague when it comes to the actual plot of the novel. Yet he's so detailed with background information and descriptions of characters. But sneaky enough to not disclose too much information pertaining to Saleem's powers and what is in store for readers. He does have to keep the interest of the readers. Creating too many questions leads to antsy readers, and pending questions.
ReplyDeleteHe uses his knowlege on Inia's history to enhance his description of the events he is recounting. He provides enough background information that it makes it easier to understand the circumstances in which his little stories are taking place.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the novel, I can affirm my previous comment because Saleem keeps using his knowlege to provide historical background for his readers.
ReplyDelete