In "Midnight's Children," Salman Rushdie explores the perspectives of children who receive various forms of support from their parents, such as food, shelter, and affection. These gifts, perceived by children as unconditional love, are actually driven by parents' aspirations for their offspring to achieve greatness. The children naively believe these benefits come with no strings attached, but the narrator recognizes the underlying expectations and motivations behind parental care.

The narrator compares himself to Pinocchio, highlighting his awareness of the invisible strings that hold relationships together. He understands that parents' behaviors are influenced by a desire for returns on their investment. This critical view reveals that parental encouragement can often be rooted in self-interest, exposing the complexity of familial bonds and the pressures placed on children to meet their parents' ambitions.