Haroun and the Sea of Stories

“What’s the use of stories that aren’t even true?”

There are people who scorn Rashid because he makes his living with make believe. His stories are entertaining, and can be useful as persuasive tools for politicians, but there are characters that do not believe that fictional stories have innate value. At the beginning of the story, Haroun asks Rashid this question. By the end of the story, he will understand the importance of fiction.

“You are only interested in pleasure, but a proper man would know that life is a serious business. Your brain is full of make-believe, so there is no room in it for facts. Mr. Sengupta has no imagination at all. This is okay by me.”

This quote is from the note that Soraya, Rashid’s wife, leaves when she abandons him for Mr. Sengupta. Rashid has always been a loving husband, but Mr. Sengupta has influenced her into thinking that Rashid’s love of stories has made him a person who does not deserve her or good fortune. Her remark that the has no imagination foreshadows the eventual reveal that his shadow self in Kahani is Khattam-Shud.

“A figure of speech is a shifty thing; it can be twisted or it can be straight.” 

Mr. Butt reinforces one of the themes of the book—that language is slippery and can be exploited by the unscrupulous. Using a figure of speech can add color and depth to a conversation, and allegories and metaphors can be useful. However, a figure of speech can also be used for obfuscation or manipulation.