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Motifs
Definition of Paradox
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar Wilde's famous declaration that "Life is... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel... read full definition
Part 4
Explanation and Analysis—The Exile:
In the first half of Part 4, Gibreel dreams about The Imam, a fanatically religious exile living in London and awaiting his return to his homeland. In Gibreel's dream, The Imam pontificates about the experience of exile using a series of metaphors and a paradox:
Exile is a dream of glorious return. Exile is a vision of revolution: Elba, not St Helena. It is an endless paradox: looking forward by always looking back. The exile is a ball hurled high into the air. He hangs there, frozen in time, translated into a photograph; denied motion, suspended impossibly above his native earth, he awaits the inevitable moment at which the photograph must begin to move, and the earth reclaim its own.
Related Themes:
Part 5, Chapter 2
Explanation and Analysis—A Pure Idea:
The notion of an idea or belief system that is pure, uncompromising, and intense is a recurring motif throughout the novel. Often, this motif appears in the context of religious radicalism; the prophets that populate the novel, from Mahound to Ayesha, are examples. In two key passages, though, Rushdie addresses the concept head-on.
First, when Gibreel is madly wandering London in Part 5, Rushdie writes:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Any new idea, Mahound, is asked two questions. The first is asked when it's weak: WHAT KIND OF AN IDEA ARE YOU? Are you the kind that compromises, does deals, accommodates itself to society, aims to find a niche, to survive; or are you the cussed, bloody-minded, ramrod-backed type of damnfool notion that would rather break than sway with the breeze?—The kind that will almost certainly, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, be smashed to bits; but the hundredth time, will change the world.
'What's the second question?' Gibreel asked aloud.
Answer the first one first.
Related Themes:
Part 8
Explanation and Analysis—A Pure Idea:
The notion of an idea or belief system that is pure, uncompromising, and intense is a recurring motif throughout the novel. Often, this motif appears in the context of religious radicalism; the prophets that populate the novel, from Mahound to Ayesha, are examples. In two key passages, though, Rushdie addresses the concept head-on.
First, when Gibreel is madly wandering London in Part 5, Rushdie writes:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Any new idea, Mahound, is asked two questions. The first is asked when it's weak: WHAT KIND OF AN IDEA ARE YOU? Are you the kind that compromises, does deals, accommodates itself to society, aims to find a niche, to survive; or are you the cussed, bloody-minded, ramrod-backed type of damnfool notion that would rather break than sway with the breeze?—The kind that will almost certainly, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, be smashed to bits; but the hundredth time, will change the world.
'What's the second question?' Gibreel asked aloud.
Answer the first one first.
Related Themes:
