Victory City Analysis

Victory City by Salman Rushdie is a historical fiction novel set in the 14th century. The story takes place in Vijayanagara (the capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire, located in the Southern region of India.) The story’s narrator and protagonist is Pampa Kampana. Despite the impressive design of the novel Victory City, Rushdie employs a subtle tone, which is humorous and satirical. The main ideas in the novel include equal rights and service to humanity. Similarly, Rushdie employs symbolism to illustrate what motivates the goddess to uplift the lives of her citizens.

The most important topic in Victory City is equal rights. The novel alludes to modern globalization in which every country pushes for equal rights and women's empowerment. In Victory City, the goddess directs Pampa to ensure both men and women are treated equally in all sectors of the economy. For instance, opportunities, education, and empowerment should be balanced between men and women. Pampa works hard and ensures women have equal rights as men in the entire Vijayanagara Empire and its environs.

The other vital topic in the novel is service to humanity. In most cases, people in authority use their influence to manipulate their subjects to gain more wealth and control. However, the goddess and Pampa are unique leaders who use their power to serve humanity. For instance, the goddess and Pampa dedicate their time and resources to improving the lives of their people by offering equal opportunities to all people regardless of gender.

One of the outstanding literary elements in the novel is symbolism. For instance, blood and fire symbolize the city’s destruction. The goddess says publicly, "From blood and fire…life and power will be born. In this exact place, a great city will rise, the wonder of the world, and this empire will last for more than two centuries." This symbolism is very important because it explains why the goddess is determined to rebuild a city that offers opportunities to all. The primary goal of the goddess is to build a self-sufficient and prosperous society.