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Midnight's Children Philosophical Viewpoints: Fatalism Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

For the next three decades, there was to be no escape. Soothsayers had prophesied me, newspapers celebrated my arrival, politicos ratified my authenticity. I was left entirely without a say in the matter. (1.1.1)

You'd think that Saleem would be happy about all these people celebrating his birth, but he only sees it as condemning him to a certain future.

Quote #2

Soumitra the time-traveller said, 'I'm telling you-all this is pointless-they'll finish us before we start!' we all ignored him (2.16.26)

Do you guys know the story of Cassandra? She's a character in Greek mythology, and she's condemned to being able to tell the future without anyone ever believing her. Sounds just like this quote doesn't it?

Quote #3

This: waiting to be drafted, I went in search of friendly, obliterating, sleep-giving, Paradise-bringing bombs. (2.23.6)

You can't get very much more fatalist than this. Not only does Saleem believe he's going to die, but he's totally accepted it, and even embraced it.