The Firebird’s Nest by Salman Rushdie: The Dichotomy of Fire & Water, Essay Example

he myths and the cultural diversity in India have always played an inherent role in the books and philosophy of Salman Rushdie. He resurrects the theosophical and abstract connotations of India into a myriad tale, which tickles the Western reader’s quest for knowing more about this country full of palaces, maharajas, camels and poor people.

The Firebird’s Nest, is a short story by Salman Rushdie, published in Telling tales (2004), edited by Nadine Gordimer published by Bloomsbury in London. He uses Phoenix or the firebird, as the main character symbolization.. According to Greek mythology, Phoenix is a sacred firebird and has a typical way of embracing death. After many years of life, the Phoenix suddenly decides to build a nest and burn itself along with its nest…Until a new born phoenix evolves from the ashes..Rushdie uses this mythological Phoenix as an ardent villain the lives of a prince and his village. He shapes his story by exploring the social, political, economic and historic genre of contemporary lifestyle, by using the dichotomy of fire and water.

The story begins with the vivid description of a princely state, which had been drought stricken. The pastures and cattle were in dearth of water (essential for existence) and the state was in virtual collapse and breakdown. The prince in the face of extreme drought, ventures to go to America for better prospects. He meets an American lady and conjures marriage …and brings her back to his shattered kingdom. She is portrayed as ‘rich’ and ‘fertile’ that could bring both.. ‘sons and rain.’ She “had a reputation in financial circles as a person who could …conjure up, for her favored projects, the monetary nourishment they required.”[p.47] * So she could bring rain, implying monetary wealth that would help in the revival of the shattered state. The Indian economy being mainly dependent on agriculture, particular reference to water implied that it was an important dichotomy…essential for the survival of the people.

The American wife lured by princely glamour and artifice consented into marriage. But later she realized that she had married a broken man, devoid of riches. His palace “crumbles, stinks.” (p.50) She lived in a state which was abusive towards its women. The story of the firebird, which killed the wives of the villagers were actually to signals the atrocities and superstition like ‘Satidaha’ where women burnt themselves for their husband. … “All brides in these parts are brought from far afield. And once men have spent their dowries, and then the firebird comes … Do you know how many brides he has had?” (p. 58)* Rushdie puts forward the religious dogmas in the form of a tale of a prince and his jealous love, where he metamorphosed into a firebird; he burnt his wife and himself in mistrust and disgust and was said to kill the wives of the villagers after the men had finished their dowry.

Miss Maharaj, the spinster sister of Mr Maharaj warns the wife of the dangers of the firebird. However, she apprehends the danger and wanted to leave for America. The prince was against her decision but Miss Maharaj promised to help her. In the fatal night, “The sister faces the brother. …it is an opera without supertitles …Miss Maharaj command[s] her brother, what started between our parents stops now …his body turns to fire …his words hang in the air as the firebird’s breath scorches Miss Maharaj, burns her to a cinder, and then turns upon the dotard’s shrieking bride. I am the firebird’s nest” (p.60)* The prince and his sister were both burnt by the firebird. But as the monster apprehended and attacked the American…there was an outburst of water from within her, “crashes upon Mr. Maharaj like a wave, and the angry dancers pour behind her …she feels the frontiers of her body burst and the waters pour out …drowning the firebird and its nest …carrying away the old dotard and his murderous fellows, cleansing the region of its horrors, its archaic tragedies.”[63] The story is an abstract narration imbibing the supernatural elements and their influence on the society. Thus fire and water were both required for evolution…and create a new life from the remains of the ashes.