In Salman Rushdie's "The Ground Beneath Her Feet," culture is critiqued as a mere collection of microorganisms thriving in a controlled environment, akin to a laboratory experiment masquerading as society. This portrayal suggests that many people live in a constricted, homogeneous state, content to exist like microorganisms on a slide while mistaking their restricted lives for a meaningful culture. Rushdie draws a parallel between this complacency and the acceptance of slavery or life-altering procedures; he implies that society embraces a conformist culture that limits true individuality.

Rushdie’s thought-provoking analogy challenges the notion of culture as something inherently valuable. He portrays a society that kneels before a misguided understanding of culture, suggesting that people often surrender their autonomy in the quest for acceptance and homogenization. In this view, the act of cultural participation becomes an act of submission, where individuals prioritize conformity over genuine expression and freedom. It highlights a troubling dynamic in which the masses may unintentionally perpetuate their own constraints, sacrificing growth for perceived societal harmony.