haroun and the sea of stories sparknotes

However, there is beauty in these social and cultural forces when they work towards the freedom of the self. Rushdie proposes that these two sides can often conflict with each other, such as when religion causes a person to undertake unjust acts. The shadow represents the forces of culture and society, such as politics or religion, with which the self is engaged. The shadow and the self are meant to represent two sides of a coin: the self symbolizes the personhood and autonomy of the individual. This quote is spoken by Mudra, the Shadow Warrior, in an attempt to explain the unrest and evil in the Land of Chup. And of course there can be quarrels between the Shadow and the Substance or Self or Person they can pull in opposite directions.but just as often there is a true partnership, and mutual respect.” Haroun and the Sea of Stories, 132 “.in the Land of Chup, a Shadow very often has a stronger personality than the Person, or Self, or Substance to whom or to which it is joined! So often the Shadow leads, and it is the Person or Self or Substance that follows. The ultimate answer is that story gives meaning. Haroun’s journey through the novel is an answer to the question of the importance of story. Rushdie presents a land in which story is being destroyed, a symbol for the way that narrative is often destroyed in the quest for power. While the book is written for young adults, the theme of story is nuanced and complicated. This quote frames the central crisis of the novel: what role does story play in culture and society and what happens when it no longer has power. “What’s the use of stories that aren’t even true?” Haroun and the Sea of Stories, 22

Haroun and the sea of stories sparknotes