The Satanic Verses by Salman Rusdie, Book Review Example

The Satanic Verses is a frame narrative, applying features pertaining to magical realism, A series of sub-plots are interwoven into its design. They are narrated as dream like visions being experienced by one of the protagonists. A frame narrative as many other novels as written by Rushdie, relates the life of Indian expatriates living in contemporary England. Two protagonists, namely Gibreel Farishta and Saladin Chamcha were of  an Indian Muslim  acting background. Farishta a popular Hollywood superstar likes Hindu deities’ roles (Rusdie, 250).

Interestingly the author allows Chamcha to be an Indian emigrant trying to escape his Indian identity functioning as voiceover artist in England. At the start of the novel, Rusdie lets the two Indian stars be caught in a hijacked plane while flying between Indian and Britain. An explosion occurs over the English Channel. The two men were mysteriously saved. This was achieved through a magical transition whereby Farishta becomes archangel Gibreel and Chamcha the devil.  Meanwhile, the character Chamcha gets arrested and is exposed to police brutality for being suspected an illegal immigrant. Farishta’s transition was considered realistic as the protagonist’s develops symptoms of schizophrenia (Rusdie, 350).

There was immense difficulty in reconciling their dilemma.  Farishta searches and finds lost love, an English mountaineer Allie Cone.  However, their relationship is doles not flourish because the of the schizophrenia he developed. Chamcha was more fortunate because he was re-transitioned into a human through a miracle. However, he is revengeful towards Farishta  for abandoning him during the hijack terror. He further engages in pathological jealousy trying to destroy the friendship between Farishta and Allie. The differences are reconciled and Farihta and Chamcha. The men return to India along the Allie. During another jealousy outbreak Farihta kills Allie subsequently committing suicide. Chamcha remains in India (Rusdie, 500)

Works cited

Rusdie Salman. The Satanic Verses. Viking Press 1988. Print