Hybrid Identities In Midnight's Children

Midnight's Children is one of the most discussed novels written by Salman Rushdie. Most critics approach this novel from the perspective of post-colonialism and focus on themes such as history, nation, or narrative techniques. The present study, based mainly on Homi Bhabha's notions of hybridity and "third space", will focus on how Rushdie constructs the hybrid identities of his characters in Midnight's Children, with the purpose of reevaluating postcolonial Indian identity.For Bhabha, the concept of "the third space" further explicates the concept and the goal of hybridity, which is a strategy for opening up the possible space of cultural discourse by transcending cultural hegemony and crossing over its historical boundaries. Hybridity - the third space - is "neither one nor the other" -the "in-between". It does not aim to resolve the conflict, nor does it attempt to reconcile the polarities in some Hegelian synthesis, but rather it accepts or at least tolerates their differences.In Midnight's Children, the identity is presented as multi-dimensional. This paper analyzes in detail the vivid images of the symbols and characterization of main characters. After discussing fragmented images to disclose the split identity of the characters in Chapter Two, Chapter Three deals with the hybrid characterization resulting from the fusing of binary oppositions. Chapter Four explains the importance of hybridity in relation to the characters' identities. It is suggested that Saleem the protagonist's hybrid identity and the "third principle" represented by his son Aadam are essential to Rushdie's construction of the Indian identity. Rushdie depicts Saleem as a seeker for his "pure" identity at the beginning, but he is defeated at the end and has to admit his hybrid identity.