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The Trumpet
In The Satanic Verses fire and water are contrasting forces that represent destruction and purification, respectively. They also reflect the novel’s broader themes of transformation and identity. When Saladin turns into a demon, fire becomes a symbol of his rage and the obliteration of his former self. The London riots, marked by flames and chaos, further highlight fire’s destructive power, tearing apart not just the city but the characters’ lives and beliefs. Water, in contrast, symbolizes cleansing and renewal. For Gibreel, water appears at moments of spiritual crisis or rebirth, such as when he emerges from the English Channel after falling from the exploded plane. The water acts as a baptismal force, suggesting a chance to start anew.
Fire and Water Quotes in The Satanic Verses
The The Satanic Verses quotes below all refer to the symbol of Fire and Water. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Part 8
Quotes
“They are going to die,” Saeed replied.
It was too late. The villagers, whose heads could be seen bobbing about in the distance, had reached the edge of the underwater shelf. Almost all together, making no visible attempt to save themselves, they dropped beneath the water’s surface. In moments, every one of the Ayesha Pilgrims had sunk out of sight.
None of them reappeared. Not a single gasping head or thrashing arm.
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Fire and Water Symbol Timeline in The Satanic Verses
The timeline below shows where the symbol Fire and Water appears in The Satanic Verses. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 2
...by the prophet Ibrahim with their child Ismail in the desert, Hagar desperately searches for water. Gibreel shows her the cool spring waters of Zamzam, which save her and her son....
(full context)
Part 3, Chapter 1
Rosa Diamond, an 88-year-old English woman living by the sea, looks out at the water and thinks about ghosts. She believes ghosts are manifestations of unfinished business rather than simple...
(full context)
Part 3, Chapter 4
...other could never provide. Pamela speeds through the rain until she hits a patch of water and loses control. The car spins out, narrowly avoiding a collision. Miraculously, she survives, though...
(full context)
Part 4
...who live in the same building and adhere to strict practices, including drinking only purified water.
(full context)
Part 7, Chapter 1
...violent history. During the meeting, Saladin experiences a vision of Mishal Sufyan with a blazing fire on her forehead, which he interprets as a sign that she is dangerous to him....
(full context)
Part 7, Chapter 3
...do not fully understand. Gibreel takes out the trumpet and blows, releasing a stream of fire that consumes the sex workers’ pimps, leaving nothing behind but ashes. This act of destruction...
(full context)
...the desires of the city’s inhabitants. He decides that the city must be cleansed by fire, a purging that will fulfill the deepest desires of its residents while also destroying them....
(full context)
...he runs, not realizing he is heading toward the Shaandaar Café, the epicenter of the firestorm that Gibreel has unleashed.
(full context)
...chaos, Gibreel carries Saladin to safety. As Gibreel walks with Saladin in his arms, the fire seems to part before them, creating a path through the flames. Outside, Mishal, who has...
(full context)
Part 8
...to clarify that the villagers are walking to the Arabian Sea where they believe the water will part for them.
(full context)
...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...
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...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.
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...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...
(full context)
...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...
(full context)
