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Part 7, Chapter 3
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Satanic Verses, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Fallibility of Prophets
Immigration and Identity
Religion and Blasphemy
Racial Prejudice and Xenophobia
Metamorphosis and Identity
Summary
Analysis
Srinivas, a toy merchant, often threatens his wife and children that one day he will abandon everything to become a sanyasi, wandering with nothing but a begging bowl and a stick. His wife, Mrs. Srinivas, treats these threats lightly, knowing that he enjoys being seen as both devout and adventurous. However, she is surprised when one day she finds his chair empty, with his glass of lime juice left unfinished.
The narration introduces Srinivas as someone caught between the mundane and the spiritual. His family, who does not take his threats seriously, is surprised when he actually leaves because they do not share his pull for something more.
Themes
Srinivas himself cannot fully explain why he leaves the comfort of his porch to witness the arrival of the villagers of Titlipur in Chatnapatna. The village boys have been shouting about an unusual procession led by a girl with silver hair with butterflies flying over her head. Chatnapatna is small enough that the arrival of 150 people causes a stir. Srinivas eventually gives in to his curiosity and joins the crowd at the roadside canteen where the pilgrims gather, just as the Chatnapatna police jeep arrives. The police treat the pilgrimage as a sectarian demonstration, but Mirza Saeed steps forward to clarify that the villagers are walking to the Arabian Sea where they believe the water will part for them.
Srinivas’s actions reflect a sense of purpose that compels him to move beyond his everyday life. The arrival of the police and Mirza Saeed’s explanation of the pilgrimage highlight the tension between belief and authority: whereas the police see the gathering as potentially subversive, the pilgrims see it as a spiritual journey. These interactions with the pilgrims and the authorities recall the previous chapter where the police and a minority group were similarly at odds.
Themes
Srinivas sees Ayesha of Desh, the girl surrounded by butterflies, for the first time and finds her presence striking. When she approaches the police officer, her smile and nod cause him to apologize and withdraw his objections, ending any trouble from the authorities. Later, a group of youths attempts to disrupt the pilgrimage by throwing stones, but the officer quickly arrests them.
Ayesha’s charisma and the symbolism of the butterflies around her suggest a divine influence, allowing her to defuse tension with ease. Her interaction with the police officer reflects her control over the situation and her ability to sway others, emphasizing her role as a spiritual leader.
Themes
Srinivas, filled with a sense of destiny, decides to join the pilgrimage. Despite Mrs. Srinivas’s protests, he decides to join the march, though he does not intend to go all the way to the Arabian Sea. As the pilgrimage continues, Srinivas notices that the swarm of butterflies over the heads of the marches acts as a sort of protective shield. Srinivas walks beside Muhammad Din, the village headman, and his wife Khadija, who are contentedly participating in the journey despite their age.
Srinivas’s decision to join the pilgrimage marks a turning point for his character, moving from passive curiosity to active participation. His perception of the butterflies as a protective shield reinforces the mystical and almost otherworldly nature of the journey. The presence of Muhammad Din and Khadija shows the inclusive nature of the pilgrimage, bringing together people of all ages, bound by a shared sense of purpose.
Themes
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As the pilgrimage progresses, the land is dry and bare, making the journey difficult. Mirza Saeed spends the first weeks of the journey in a state of agitation, constantly trying to convince Mishal to abandon the pilgrimage due to her worsening health. Despite his pleas, Mishal remains resolute, and Mirza finds himself alone in his efforts to stop what he views as a dangerous and foolish mission. Even as the pilgrims face hardships, Ayesha of Desh’s influence remains strong, and the group continues on as they seek to fulfill her vision.
The harsh landscape exemplifies the physical and spiritual challenges the pilgrims must endure on their journey. Additionally, Mishal’s determination despite her declining health showcases the powerful hold that Ayesha’s vision has over the pilgrims. Despite Mirza Saeed’s desperate attempts to get her to see reason, something about Ayesha makes her want to see the journey to its end.
Themes
Tragedy strikes on the 18th day when Khadija, dreams of the angel Azraeel and dies the next morning. Despite Mirza’s insistence that she be given a proper burial, Ayesha of Desh insists that they continue directly to the sea, so Khadija is buried by the roadside. As the pilgrimage continues, the health of the older pilgrims deteriorates, and food and water become scarce. Ayesha imposes stricter rules, including mandatory prayers and fasting, which leads to more deaths along the way. Despite these losses, the remaining pilgrims march on, their faith in Ayesha unwavering.
Khadija’s death and Ayesha’s insistence on continuing the journey without a proper burial reveal the extent to which the pilgrims’ devotion overrides conventional norms and humanity. The deteriorating conditions and strict rules Ayesha imposes showcase the dangerous consequences of blind faith. As the older pilgrims die and resources dwindle, the group’s persistence illustrates the powerful, sometimes fatal, influence of charismatic leadership, as they seek transcendence at any cost.
Themes
Tensions rise when the pilgrimage enters more densely populated areas, leading to harassment from locals and confrontations with the authorities. The situation escalates when a man’s steer dies, and Ayesha of Desh’s dismissive response causes him to lose his love for her, seeing her now as a messenger of doom rather than hope. By the ninth week, the pilgrimage has attracted national attention, drawing journalists, politicians, and onlookers. However, extremist groups also begin to denounce the “Ayesha Haj,” accusing it of inciting communal tensions. Despite these threats, Ayesha remains undeterred, leading the pilgrims closer to their goal.
As the pilgrimage moves through more populated areas, it encounters increased hostility. Ayesha’s dismissive attitude when faced with the loss of the steer reveals cracks in her influence, showing how absolute faith can falter when confronted with real-world consequences. Also, the growing media and political attention reflect how the pilgrimage has become a national spectacle, with different groups projecting their agendas onto it.
Themes
As they near the city of Sarang, known for its coal mines, tensions reach a boiling point. The miners, influenced by communalist agitators, prepare to confront the pilgrims with violence. On the night before they enter Sarang, Ayesha of Desh’s butterflies vanish, and the pilgrims are left feeling vulnerable. However, the next day, as they approach the barricade set up by the miners, a torrential rainstorm suddenly erupts, washing away the barricade and scattering the mob.
The disappearance of Ayesha’s butterflies symbolizes a loss of divine favor or protection, creating a moment of crisis for the pilgrims. However, the sudden rainstorm that washes away the barricade reinforces the idea of miraculous intervention, rekindling the pilgrims’ faith. Here and elsewhere in the novel, water proves to be a cleansing force that renews and restores.
Themes
Mirza once again begs Mishal to come home with him, as her health continues to worsen. However, she refuses and continues with the others toward the Arabian Sea. When the pilgrims finally reach the sea, Ayesha stands before the waves and declares that the sea will open for them if they open their hearts. The villagers, filled with renewed faith, follow her into the water, ignoring Mirza’s desperate pleas for them to stop. As they walk into the sea, they disappear beneath the waves, never to be seen again.
The final act of faith by the pilgrims represents the ultimate test of belief. Their decision to walk into the sea, driven by the promise of a miracle, indicates that they are placing their blind faith in Ayesha. The disappearance of the pilgrims beneath the waves is a haunting image that encapsulates the novel’s exploration of the extremes of devotion and the thin line between spiritual transcendence and self-destruction.
Themes
Although Mirza and a few others who did not follow Ayesha of Desh try to save the villagers, they are unsuccessful. Later, some people will insist that they saw the water parting, just as Ayesha had promised. Mirza is left in shock, filled with regret for not being able to save those who drowned. He returns to his village, but soon after, he dies. Right before his death, he has a vision of himself walking through the Arabian Sea, alongside the pilgrims and Ayesha.
The aftermath of the pilgrimage’s tragic end shows the lasting impact of Ayesha’s vision on those who survived. The insistence by some that they saw the miracle speaks to the enduring power of faith to shape reality, even in the face of death. Additionally, Mirza’s final vision of joining the pilgrims suggests a reconciliation with the faith he once opposed.
Themes
