In Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children," the protagonist Saleem Sinai is closely tied to India's independence and the personal and political turmoil that follows. The phrase "optimism is a disease" reflects Saleem's struggle with hope amidst the chaos of his country's history. This idea suggests that excessive hope can blind one to reality, making it difficult to cope with the often harsh truths of life.

The novel explores themes of identity, memory, and the intertwining of personal lives with national events. Saleem's narrative serves as a metaphor for India's own journey, as he grapples with the burden of being a symbol of hope while recognizing the fragility of that hope in a rapidly changing world.