Stories are account of real or imagined events. Haroun and the Sea of Stories contains many of them that do not clearly distinguish the line between reality and imagination. In fact these stories, true or untrue, show that imagination is necessary to work and feed the mind as well as to provide hope and courage for life's daily challenges. For imagination is a part of reality.
Imagination is served by creative minds and can stir minds into creativity. Creativity is an expression of imagination. The Guppees, a colourful and diverse people, have immense imagination and engage in all forms of creativity. Their beautiful architecture and landscape show their skills in designing. Their advance technology (especially at P2C2E House) shows their ability to mix facts to new scientific realm. Their love for sharing their views and engagement in debates does not divide them but move them into new levels of agreement and unite them towards a common goal. For disagreement is a form of exploratory imagination. Finally, their passion for the Ocean of the Streams of Stories shows how occupied they are over stories for they stir their imagination. Their minds are active and they constantly seek satisfaction for their curiosity. Their lifestyle cannot be lived devoid of the creative powers of imagination.
On the other hand, the Chupwalas are dull and uninteresting. Their dark, cold and colourless city reflects their lack of imagination. Their cultmaster controls them by enforcing silence in the land of Chup. The lack of communication dulls their mind and causes them to be fearful and suspicious even of their own shadows. Their silence and the cultmaster's control reduce the Chupwalas to simply existing without living to the fullest. For without imagination, the people have no curiosity, will not seek answers to questions and, eventually, become like machines.
Back on earth, politicians value Rashid's storytelling ability.