Later in the story you find out that Mary switched Saleem with another baby born at midnight. The parents they have weren't the ones that gave birth to them. How would the story change if this hadn't happened?
I found this really interesting. Obviously, Saleem wouldn't have been exposed to as many opportunities and things as a poor child than he did as the son of a (relatively) rich man. It actually confused me: how did Saleem get his "grandfather's" nose if he wasn't actually the grandson of Aziz? And how did Amina not recognize her baby? I thought mothers were supposed to have like a special connection with their children, like how only the parents can tell identical twins apart.
That is really odd... I don't see how he could have inherrited the nose. On the other hand, didn't Saleem mention that his father inherrited Aadam's trait of not following his nose, even though they're not related either? Maybe Saleem believes that people develop more based on how they're raised than based on their genetic composition.
I think if Saleem had stayed with his poor parents then his ancestor's stories would be more from the point of view of the lower class in India because Aziz was a doctor and pretty well off and Ahmed was a businessman, so he and Amina were also quite well off. Therefore their stories probably differed a lot from Saleem's real and poorer parents and Saleem's story probably would've been more about him rising up from poverty.I also agree with Marcella, the idea that Saleem has his "grandfather's nose" who isn't really his grandfather doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Maybe it was fate? Or maybe by some coincidence his real grandfather had a nose just like Aziz's? It really doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
I agree with Laura that Saleem believes people develop based on how they are raised and not on their biological parents. I also think that it is important to remember that Saleem says he is also the son of India, so since Aziz is part of India, perhaps he could have in a sense gotten the nose from India.
I agree that it's those who raise you who make the biggest impact on you. However, I also feel that you do have a certain amount of character and personality that you are born with that wouldn't change no matter who raises you (ex.-some parents are unable to control a child's rebellious tendencies no matter how good a parent they are. You can lock them in a dungeon but that won't quell the burning spirit in their hearts!). Since a person is much affected by surroundings, there would obviously be changes in character if outcomes played out differently.
This really makes you wonder. why would he even describe his "grandparents" and "parents" if they werent his real family. As Taylor said those who raise you have the biggest impact on you.
That's a good question! How would he even begin to know who his parents and grandparents were if he was switched at birth? Maybe he found out who they were, or just knew because he's magical like that...? We probably need to keep reading to answer this question...along with the many other questions that Rushdie provokes...
Greer, if Saleem had been raised in poverty, how would that have effected the story exactly? Other than the perspective change, what else would have been effected? it is interesting that point was raised.
Maybe because Saleem was raised by Aziz's family, he doesn't have the privilege of adopting his real ancestor's memories, Adam. And that's why he is not at liberty to share them. Or perhaps he isn't sharing his real family's information because it isn't essential to the story. The actual people in his real family matter obviously (why else would Rushdie add that?), but probably not their history. They aren't the ones with the powers, unlike Aziz. Which is also the most probable reason that Mary switched them.
I don't know if that would have changed the story all that much, except for that he would have been raised in a different life, in a lower class situation, which would probably affect his viewpoint on a lot of things. Other than that, I can't think of anything that would have changed much.
After having completed the book, I think it would have changed his story and his character completely if he was raised in poverty because his priveleged life almost defines him in a way.
I found this really interesting. Obviously, Saleem wouldn't have been exposed to as many opportunities and things as a poor child than he did as the son of a (relatively) rich man. It actually confused me: how did Saleem get his "grandfather's" nose if he wasn't actually the grandson of Aziz? And how did Amina not recognize her baby? I thought mothers were supposed to have like a special connection with their children, like how only the parents can tell identical twins apart.
ReplyDeleteThat is really odd... I don't see how he could have inherrited the nose. On the other hand, didn't Saleem mention that his father inherrited Aadam's trait of not following his nose, even though they're not related either? Maybe Saleem believes that people develop more based on how they're raised than based on their genetic composition.
ReplyDeleteI think if Saleem had stayed with his poor parents then his ancestor's stories would be more from the point of view of the lower class in India because Aziz was a doctor and pretty well off and Ahmed was a businessman, so he and Amina were also quite well off. Therefore their stories probably differed a lot from Saleem's real and poorer parents and Saleem's story probably would've been more about him rising up from poverty.I also agree with Marcella, the idea that Saleem has his "grandfather's nose" who isn't really his grandfather doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Maybe it was fate? Or maybe by some coincidence his real grandfather had a nose just like Aziz's? It really doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Laura that Saleem believes people develop based on how they are raised and not on their biological parents. I also think that it is important to remember that Saleem says he is also the son of India, so since Aziz is part of India, perhaps he could have in a sense gotten the nose from India.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's those who raise you who make the biggest impact on you. However, I also feel that you do have a certain amount of character and personality that you are born with that wouldn't change no matter who raises you (ex.-some parents are unable to control a child's rebellious tendencies no matter how good a parent they are. You can lock them in a dungeon but that won't quell the burning spirit in their hearts!). Since a person is much affected by surroundings, there would obviously be changes in character if outcomes played out differently.
ReplyDeleteThis really makes you wonder. why would he even describe his "grandparents" and "parents" if they werent his real family. As Taylor said those who raise you have the biggest impact on you.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good question! How would he even begin to know who his parents and grandparents were if he was switched at birth? Maybe he found out who they were, or just knew because he's magical like that...? We probably need to keep reading to answer this question...along with the many other questions that Rushdie provokes...
ReplyDeleteGreer, if Saleem had been raised in poverty, how would that have effected the story exactly? Other than the perspective change, what else would have been effected? it is interesting that point was raised.
ReplyDeleteMaybe because Saleem was raised by Aziz's family, he doesn't have the privilege of adopting his real ancestor's memories, Adam. And that's why he is not at liberty to share them. Or perhaps he isn't sharing his real family's information because it isn't essential to the story. The actual people in his real family matter obviously (why else would Rushdie add that?), but probably not their history. They aren't the ones with the powers, unlike Aziz. Which is also the most probable reason that Mary switched them.
I don't know if that would have changed the story all that much, except for that he would have been raised in a different life, in a lower class situation, which would probably affect his viewpoint on a lot of things. Other than that, I can't think of anything that would have changed much.
ReplyDeleteAfter having completed the book, I think it would have changed his story and his character completely if he was raised in poverty because his priveleged life almost defines him in a way.
ReplyDelete