Haroun contains many references to other stories, songs, plays etc. I found it interesting that Rushdie used a Beatles song to name a character in the story, the Walrus. Rushdie's magical realism style reminds me of Alice and Wonderland because of the strange names and exotic places in the story. Alice and Wonderland was also made into a children's book. obviously the references to other stories, songs etc. are an indication of postmodern literature, are the abundant metaphors Rushdie uses also an indication? The idea that water represents words and free speech is prevelant many times throughout the story. I think that Rushdie's main point in the book was freedom of speech. Because Rushdie wrote from hiding after being persecuted for writing the satanic verses it would make sense that he would include his feelings on free speech in his first novel since the satanic verses. Rushdie uses the common good vs. evil imagery of light and dark when he writes about the inhabitants of the moon, however the light signifies speech and words and the dark signifies silence.