25th Annual Student Research Conference
A Feminist Reading of Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children
Korey A. Kimball
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
In my paper, I will be conducting a Feminist reading of Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children. I will concentrate on the character of Padma, the protagonist's caretaker and companion. Padma is the audience for Saleem's, the protagonist, story. Rushdie uses Padma's character to speak for the reader's doubt when Saleem's magical story starts to become farfetched. Salman does not give Padma any background information in order for her to be a perfect receiver of Saleem's history. The author also uses Padma to counteract the magical and mystical tendencies for the novel. The two characters play off each other in the present in order to give a sense of grounding to the reader. In conclusion, Rushdie makes Padma the audience of Saleem's story, writing her as a contradicting character without a background in order for her to be the perfect recipient for the protagonist's history.
Keywords: Feminist Crtiicism, International Literature, Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie
Topic(s):English
Women's and Gender Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 408-1
Location: VH 1408
Time: 2:30