Reality is a question of perspective; the further you get from the past, the more concrete and plausible it seems - but as you approach the present, it inevitably seems more and more incredible. Suppose yourself in a large cinema, sitting at first in the back row, and gradually moving up, row by row, until your nose is almost pressed against the screen. Gradually the stars' faces dissolve into dancing grain; tiny details assume grotesque proportions; the illusion dissolves - or rather, it becomes clear that the illusion itself is reality.
In Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children," the concept of reality is explored through the lens of perspective. As one distances themselves from past events, those memories become more solid and believable. However, as one gets closer to the current moment, the past starts to appear more fantastical and surreal. This tension highlights how our understanding of reality can shift based on our experiences and proximity to time.
The metaphor of watching a film in a cinema illustrates this idea effectively. Sitting at the back allows the viewer to perceive a clear and cohesive narrative, but moving closer brings out the grain and chaos of individual frames, distorting the overall picture. This process reveals that what we often regard as reality can actually be an illusion, shaped by our interpretations and the distance we maintain from our experiences.
