This essay explores the extensive use of intertextuality in Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children, highlighting how historical, literary, cultural, political, religious, cinematic, and self-referential references are interwoven into the narrative. Rushdie employs intertextuality to deepen the reader’s understanding of themes and characters, creating a richly layered and multifaceted narrative. By embedding historical events and figures, drawing on literary traditions, invoking cultural and religious myths, and engaging with political and cinematic texts, Rushdie crafts a novel that reflects the complexity of Indian identity and history. The essay also examines critical perspectives on Rushdie’s intertextual techniques, demonstrating how they challenge conventional narrative forms and invite reflection on the interconnectedness of texts and the construction of meaning.

Intertextuality, Salman Rushdie, Midnight’s Children, magical realism, self-referentiality