The Silver Spittoon
The silver spittoon given to Amina as part of her dowry
by the Rani of Cooch Naheen is responsible for Saleem’s loss of
memory. Even when he has amnesia, however, Saleem continues to cherish
the spittoon as if he still understands its historical value. Following
the destruction of his family, the silver spittoon is the only tangible
remnant of Saleem’s former life, and yet it too is eventually destroyed when
Saleem’s house in the ghetto is torn down. Spittoons, once used
as part of a cherished game for both old and young, gradually fell
out of use: the old men no longer spit their betel juice into the street
as they tell stories, nor do the children dart in between the streams
as they listen. The spittoon is the symbol of a vanishing era, which,
in retrospect, seemed simpler and easier. And so, although Saleem
may not be able to recall the specific association between the spittoon
and his family, the spittoon maintains its symbolic quality as both
a container of memory and source of amnesia.
The Perforated Sheet
The perforated sheet through which Aadam Aziz falls in
love with his future wife performs several different symbolic functions throughout
the novel. Unable to see his future wife as a whole, Aadam falls
in love with her in pieces. As a result, their love never has a
cohesive unity that holds them together. Their love is fragmented,
just as their daughter Amina’s attempts to fall in love with her
husband are also fragmented. Haunted by the memory of her previous
husband, Amina embarks on a campaign to fall in love with her new
husband in sections, just as her father once fell in love with her
mother. Despite her best attempts, Amina and Ahmed’s love also lacks
the completion and unity necessary for genuine love to thrive. The
hole of the perforated sheet represents a portal for vision but
also a void that goes unfilled. The perforated sheet makes one final
appearance with Jamila Singer: in an attempt to preserve her purity,
she shrouds herself completely, except for a single hole for her
lips. The perforated sheet, in addition to preserving her purity,
also reduces to her to nothing more than a voice. The sheet becomes
a veil that separates her from the rest of the world and reflects
her inability to accept affection.
Knees and Nose
The seer, Ramram, predicts the birth of “knees and nose,”
which represent Shiva and Saleem, respectively. In addition to symbolizing each
boy’s special power, knees and nose also play another role. When
Aadam Aziz first kneels down to pray, his knees touch the floor
and his nose hits the ground. Knees and nose, in this instance, represent
an act of prayer, as well as the submission and humility necessary
faith. After hitting his nose on the ground, however, Aadam rejects
that submission, and a hole opens up inside of him. Knees and nose
also become significant with Farooq’s death via a sniper bullet.
Shot, Farooq first drops to his knees, then hits his nose on the
ground. Just as Aadam bowed before god, Farooq bows before death.
Shiva is suspected of killing a string of prostitutes with his powerful
knees, while Saleem uses his nose to discover the most decrepit
prostitute in the city. Knees and nose—just like Shiva and Saleem,
destruction and creation, faith and humility—are inextricably related.
