Children get food shelter pocket money longholidays and love, all of it apparently free gratis, and most of the little fools think it's a sort of compensation for having been born. 'There are no strings on me!' They sang; but I, pinnoccio, saw the strings. Parents are impelled by the profit motive - nothing more, nothing less. For their attentions, they expected, from me, the immense dividend of greatness.
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.