Power and Censorship

Theme Analysis

Haroun and the Sea of Stories was written in the years following the publishing of The Satanic

Verses, which sparked immense controversy and began a years-long battle between Rushdie and

some Muslim-majority countries, particularly Iran, over freedom of speech. Especially in light of

these events, Haroun and the Sea of Stories can be considered a meditation on ideas of power

and censorship, and how language and stories are tools that can be used to exert, maintain, or

undermine power. The novel presents a very clear position that language is power, and whoever

is in possession of language can exert power over those around them. Consequentially, censorship

emerges as a major theme as characters battle for power over not just what language can and

should say or do, but over language itself.

The relationship between power and stories is rst introduced when we learn that Rashid is in

high demand with politicos (politicians). The general populace believes Rashid because he is

upfront about the fact that his stories aren't true, while nobody trusts the politicos that make

no such claims. As such, Mr. Buttoo hires Rashid to tell happy stories so that he can win the

election in Al bay. Essentially, he understands the power that Rashid and his stories hold, and

uses money and threats to attempt to censor what Rashid says. However, in spite of these

threats, the novel ultimately champions the power of free speech, as Rashid's retelling of his

and Haroun's adventures on the moon Kahani become an allegory for what is happening

politically in Al bay and ultimately leads to Mr. Buttoo's defeat.

Khattam-Shud's desire to have absolute power stems from a need to control everything he

possibly can. He sees the worlds around him as existing only for the sake of being ruled, and his

preferred method of ruling is through censorship. Rather than insist that people only speak a
certain way or tell certain types of stories like Mr. Buttoo, Khattam-Shud sets out to stop the

existence of speech and stories altogether. As a result of this extreme degree of censorship, the

Chupwalas' trust in each other is eroded. More important even than that is the idea that the

Chupwalas also lose trust in their Shadows, which possess their own personalities, and are

therefore unable to exist as whole, functioning individuals. This exposes censorship as a dark

force that can successfully control even an unwilling population, as Mudra the Shadow Warrior

knows that many Chupwalas only obey Khattam-Shud out of fear.

Rashid is able to disobey Mr. Buttoo thanks to what he and Haroun learn from witnessing the ill

effects of censorship in Chup and the positive effects of free speech in Gup. Despite the fact

that Haroun and Rashid are undeniably on the side of the talkative Guppees, they initially

struggle to reconcile how language functions in Guppee society with what they know of

censorship in Al bay. Haroun, for example, is shocked that some Guppees would openly state

they'd sacri ce Princess Batcheat for the sake of the Ocean, describing such a suggestion as

mutinous. However, Butt suggests that there's no point in granting people freedom of speech if

they're unable to truly exercise that freedom. Haroun and Rashid's struggle to understand this

relationship between freedom and censorship is resolved when Rashid sees that the arguments

and discussions within the Guppee army lead not to mutiny, but to a greater sense of trust

among the Guppee soldiers. Seeing that this style of open and honest discourse can create

positive results, Rashid weaves a story that slyly reveals Mr. Buttoo as the villain he is by

con ating him with Khattam-Shud.

In the novel's exploration of language and power, censorship is painted as a way to dehumanize

and depersonalize a population. The novel essentially suggests that by limiting speech, knowledge

of the world and knowledge of the self cannot be obtained, while simultaneously presenting the

idea that open communication and the spread of ideas is the only way for individuals and

societies to truly ourish.