A Close Analysis of The Disappeared

by Christian Dave C. Evangelista

Salman Rushdie’s “The Disappeared” highlights the challenges that the author faced
during the time Iran leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against him. The memoir excerpt
portrayed his travels as he finds a safe place for himself with the help of his friends. The author
significantly used a third-person perspective in writing the memoir compared to the traditional
first-person narrative. He utilized this to tell the story of Joseph Anton, a pseudonym he used
while he was in hiding.

In the memoir excerpt, Salman recounts the chain of events that occurred during
Valentine’s Day in the year 1989. During that time, he thought that he would not live much
longer, mentioning he was a “dead man” in the first paragraph. His wife, Marianne Wiggins,
already felt estranged yet somehow is still attached to him. To make things worse, he did not
feel good about the Muslims’ heated reactions toward his controversial book “The Satanic
Verses,” which prompts Khomeini to put a fatwa in place. However, when interviewed on live
television, Salman states that he would have written a more critical book than what he made.
These remarks made him the hot topic of the day, prompting journalists to follow him after the
interview.

As the story progresses, he became more worried not only for himself but also for his
family and relatives, thinking that their lives are also in danger from the Muslims. As he visited
the memorial service for his great friend Bruce Chatwin, his friends told him that they are
worried about his safety, which he feels the same. A friend of his, Paul Theroux, assumes that
Salman will probably be there next week, but as dead as Chatwin. During the service, more
photographers and paparazzi came forcing him to leave. He went to his wife’s basement
apartment in Islington. There, he felt nothing and has no words to say. He then decided to leave
and visit his son Zafar and ex-wife Clarissa. There, he talked with his son openly about the
situation he is currently facing. He promised that he would call him every night at seven. The
police stationed there suggested that he should stay indoors for his safety. Thus, he left and
headed home. Upon getting out of the car, he noticed that the police are guarding him. He felt
secured but haunted at the same time. The memoir excerpt ended with him going to bed beside
his estranged wife, filled with thoughts and failing to sleep.

What the author wants to convey in the memoir excerpt is the change that continually
happens within ourselves. Like him, we also feel confused at times, either we want to do
something or even nothing at all. The theme of change is also present in his relationships with
others. Due to unforeseeable circumstances, he and his wife are unhappy with their marriage.
On the other hand, his relationship with his ex-wife for five years is blossoming through their son
Zafar. Change is also evident when the ideas and morals of his past and present self are
contradicting one another, indicating the transformation that he went through from writing the
book to facing the controversy. Change is inevitable. We are continuously growing and
developing as time passes by. We must find the courage to leave behind our old ways and to
accept our new identity like what Salman did.