Name: Upasna Goswami
paper: 202 Indian English Literature – Post-Independence
Roll no: 20
Enrollment no: 4069206420220012
Batch: 2023-2024 (M.A Sem 3)
Email id:
goswamiupasna339@gmail.com
Submitted to: S. B. Gardi Department of English, maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
Narrative Technique 'Midnight's Children'
Introduction:
"Midnight's Children" by Salman Rushdie is known for its intricate narrative technique. The novel employs several literary devices and narrative strategies to tell its complex story. Here are some key aspects of the narrative technique in "Midnight's Children"
First-Person Narrative:
The first-person narrative is a literary technique where the story is told from the perspective of a narrator who is a character within the story. In the case of "Midnight's Children" by Salman Rushdie, the first-person narrator is Saleem Sinai, the protagonist of the novel. This means that readers experience the events of the story through Saleem's eyes, thoughts, and emotions.
Here are some characteristics and advantages of the first-person narrative in "Midnight's Children":
1. Subjectivity:
The first-person narrative allows readers to gain intimate access to Saleem's thoughts and feelings. This subjective perspective creates a more personal and immersive reading experience. Readers see the world of the novel through Saleem's unique lens, and his individual voice shapes the storytelling.
2. Personal Connection:
Through Saleem's narration, readers develop a direct and personal connection with the protagonist. This connection can evoke empathy and understanding as readers witness Saleem's personal struggles, joys, and growth throughout the novel.
3. Unreliable Narrator:
The first-person perspective introduces the possibility of an unreliable narrator. As Saleem recounts his life story, readers must consider the limitations and biases of his perspective. This adds an element of complexity and ambiguity to the narrative, encouraging readers to critically engage with the story.
4. Emotional Impact:
First-person narratives often have a strong emotional impact because readers are directly exposed to the narrator's emotions and internal conflicts. In "Midnight's Children," Saleem's emotional journey becomes a central aspect of the narrative, contributing to the novel's depth and resonance.
5. Identity Exploration:
The first-person narrative is well-suited for exploring the theme of identity, which is prominent in "Midnight's Children." Saleem grapples with questions of identity throughout the novel, and the first-person perspective allows readers to closely follow his internal struggles as he comes to terms with who he is and his place in the world.
While the first-person narrative provides these advantages, it's important to note that it also has limitations. The reader's understanding of events is confined to what Saleem knows and experiences, potentially limiting the scope of the narrative. However, in the case of "Midnight's Children," Rushdie skillfully uses this narrative technique to weave a complex and engaging tale that merges personal and historical dimensions.
Magic Realism:
Magic realism is a literary genre or style that blends magical elements with the real world in a way that blurs the line between fantasy and reality. In "Midnight's Children" by Salman Rushdie, magic realism is a prominent and defining feature of the narrative. Here's how magic realism is manifested in the novel:
1. Magical Elements in Everyday Life:
In magic realism, fantastical events and elements are presented as ordinary and commonplace. In "Midnight's Children," characters possess magical abilities, and extraordinary events occur as part of everyday life. For example, Saleem Sinai, the protagonist, has telepathic powers that connect him with other children born at the exact moment of India's independence. This magical aspect is seamlessly integrated into the narrative, coexisting with the historical and political events of the real world.
2. Blurring of Boundaries:
Magic realism often involves the blurring of boundaries between the natural and supernatural, the possible and impossible. In "Midnight's Children," the boundaries between reality and fantasy are intentionally blurred. The novel presents a world where the magical and the historical coexist without clear distinctions. This blending of elements adds a layer of complexity to the narrative and challenges traditional distinctions between genres.
3. Symbolic and Metaphorical Significance:
Magical elements in the novel often carry symbolic and metaphorical significance. For instance, the telepathic connection between the Midnight's Children symbolizes a shared destiny and interconnectedness. The magical aspects serve as metaphors for the broader social, cultural, and political realities of post-colonial India.
4. Cultural and Mythical References:
Magic realism frequently draws on cultural and mythical elements. In "Midnight's Children," Rushdie incorporates a wealth of cultural references, myths, and folklore from India. These elements contribute to the richness of the narrative, grounding the magical aspects in the cultural context of the story.
5. Shifts in Perception:
Magic realism often involves shifts in perception, where characters and readers alike accept magical occurrences as part of the narrative's reality. In "Midnight's Children," the characters react to magical events with a blend of acceptance and nonchalance, mirroring the narrative's seamless integration of the magical into the ordinary.
Storytelling Within Storytelling:
In "Midnight's Children," the narrative technique of "Storytelling Within Storytelling" is employed by Salman Rushdie to add layers of depth to the novel. An example of this technique can be found in Saleem Sinai's recounting of his family history, especially the stories involving his grandfather, Aadam Aziz.
Within Saleem's narrative, he delves into the life of Aadam Aziz, who experiences a peculiar incident with his future wife Naseem. The storytelling unfolds as Aadam Aziz accidentally sees Naseem through a perforation in a bedsheet and falls in love with her. This incident is not just a personal anecdote but is intricately woven into the larger narrative, influencing the fate of the subsequent generations.
This storytelling within the main narrative serves multiple purposes:
1. Character Development:
\ It provides insight into the personalities and motivations of characters like Aadam Aziz and Naseem, shaping the reader's understanding of their roles in Saleem's family and the broader context of the story.
2. Cultural Context:
The stories within storytelling often include cultural and historical elements, offering a glimpse into the traditions, beliefs, and practices of the characters. This enriches the reader's understanding of the cultural tapestry against which the narrative unfolds.
3. Symbolic Significance:
The stories within the narrative frequently carry symbolic weight. For example, Aadam Aziz's unusual courtship with Naseem can be seen as a metaphor for the unpredictable and unconventional nature of love, a theme that resonates throughout the novel.
4. Foreshadowing:
These embedded stories often foreshadow future events or themes in the novel. By revealing aspects of the characters' pasts, Rushdie sets the stage for the complexities that will unfold in Saleem's own life and the destinies of midnight's children.
Through this narrative technique, Rushdie creates a literary tapestry where stories within stories contribute to the novel's thematic richness, character development, and the intricate interplay of past and present in "Midnight's Children."
Historical Allegory:
In "Midnight's Children," Salman Rushdie employs the narrative technique of historical allegory to weave the personal stories of the characters into the broader historical context of post-colonial India. The novel serves as an allegory for the tumultuous events that shaped the nation in the mid-20th century. One prominent historical event allegorically represented in the novel is the partition of India in 1947.
Example of Historical Allegory in "Midnight's Children":
The partition of India is symbolically portrayed through the characters' experiences, particularly Saleem Sinai and Shiva. Saleem, born at the exact moment of India's independence, finds himself linked to the fate of the nation. His personal journey mirrors the struggles, identity crises, and conflicts that India faces during this period of political upheaval.
The characters in the novel represent various religious and cultural backgrounds, reflecting the diverse population of India. Saleem's telepathic connection with other children born at the same moment symbolises the unity and diversity of the nation. However, as the story progresses, internal conflicts and external pressures threaten this unity.
Shiva, another of midnight's children, becomes a symbol of the violent consequences of partition. His life takes a different trajectory, marked by tragedy and conflict, representing the discord and communal violence that accompanied the partition.
Through these characters and their interconnected destinies, Rushdie allegorically explores the challenges of nation-building, identity formation, and the impact of historical events on individuals. The novel becomes a metaphor for the complex and often painful birth of independent India.
By employing historical allegory, Rushdie transforms the personal narratives of his characters into a broader commentary on the socio-political landscape of post-independence India, inviting readers to reflect on the historical forces that shaped the nation and its people.
Stream of Consciousness:
Stream of consciousness is a narrative technique that aims to depict the continuous flow of thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the human mind. It often lacks a conventional structure and can give the impression of unfiltered, spontaneous thinking. In literature, this technique is used to provide insight into a character's inner world, offering a subjective and often fragmented perspective.
In the context of "Midnight's Children," Salman Rushdie incorporates elements of stream of consciousness in the narration, particularly through the character Saleem Sinai. The narrative reflects the rapid and unstructured flow of Saleem's thoughts, memories, and emotions. This technique allows readers to experience the immediacy of Saleem's consciousness, providing a more intimate and personal connection to the character.
As Saleem recounts his story, the stream of consciousness in the narrative mirrors the complexity of his identity, the intertwining of personal and historical events, and the magical elements present in the novel. It adds a layer of depth and authenticity to the storytelling, capturing the intricacies of Saleem's inner life and the tumultuous nature of the events unfolding in the novel.
Western and Indian Oral Narratological Methods
Conclusion
"Midnight's Children," Salman Rushdie employs a multifaceted narrative technique that combines Western and Indian influences. The novel utilizes first-person narration, stream of consciousness, and historical allegory, reflecting Western literary traditions. Simultaneously, it draws from Indian oral storytelling methods with a multiperspectival approach, magical realism, and rich cultural symbolism. The result is a complex and immersive narrative that weaves together personal and national histories, reflecting the diverse influences that shape the novel.
Work cited
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Bidisha. “An introduction to Midnight’s Children.” The British Library, 25 May 2016, https://www.bl.uk/20th-century-literature/articles/an-introduction-to-midnights-children#authorBlock1. Accessed 17 October 2023.
Habib Bounse. “Hybridity and Postcoloniality: Formal, Social, and Historical Innovations in Salman Rushdieâ•Žs Midnightâ•Žs Children.” TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange, 20 April 2009, https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=2254&context=utk_chanhonoproj. Accessed 17 October 2023.
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Olava Almestad. “A Comparative Study of the Narrative Techniques in Midnight's Children and The God of Small Things.” UiO - DUO, 16 November 2015, https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/58967/Master-Thesis-by-Liv-Olava-Almestad.pdf?sequence=1. Accessed 17 October 2023.
“A Study On The Magic Realism In Midnight's Children And Its Impact To The Literary Work.” Elementary Education Online, 2021, https://www.ilkogretim-online.org/fulltext/218-1650467601.pdf. Accessed 17 October 2023.
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