This manipulation of the Inferno trope, so that it acts to reveal psychological rather than empirical reality, blurs the boundaries dividing internal and external realities, which is a fundamental conceit to the novel and Rushdie's works as a whole.
By transforming the Inferno motif to highlight psychological over empirical truths, this manipulation muddles the lines between inner and outer worlds, which is a central concept within the narrative and Rushdie’s broader literary output.