The Unbearable lightness of being review

The Unbearable Lightness of Being is a book very unlike any other. It has a particular charm that entices you into its depths despite it being a novel that at times can be very frustrating, repetitive and complicated. If you want a story for light reading this is most undoubtedly not the right choice for you.

In a nutshell, the unbearable lightness of being is a book that explores relationships in all their vast variety set in the background of the Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia 1968. Kundera explores, in a frankly philosophical manner, what makes opposites attract, and what the best path is for happiness. Along the way his characters experience infidelity, death, intrigue and politics; growing and living all the way.

The communist background is incredibly interesting especially as Kundera brings the issue into much wider context, comparing Communsim to the American dream and Kitsch. This concept of the wider context is returned to again and again as the four main characters' lives intertwine by the slightest of events or compare in the bowels of their past.

The plot line, when it is existent in the realm of philosophy, focuses down on the survival of a relationship between Tereza and Tomas. '... with his mistresses , he could never quite put down the imaginary scapel. Since he longed to take posssesion of something deep inside them, he needed to slit them open'. Tomas' infidelites are the axis for all the philosophical musings of the novel. Tomas and Tereza display two complete opposites. Tereza is the vulnerable, dependant innocent. Tomas, however, is the control freak who needs to dominate those around him. Against his best intentions Tomas falls in love with Tereza and yet he is unable to stop seeing his mistresses or meeting new women. Tereza in her dependance on Tomas can do nothing to prevent this but her deep unrest is demonstrated through her dreams. For instance, there is one instance ( when Prague is deeply under the control of the communists which adds to the dark feel to that particular chapter), when Tomas sends Tereza to Petrin Hill in order to be shot. The interesting thing about this encounter however, is that it is never made clear that this event is a dream. ''No, no it wasn't my choice at all!' but she could not imagine betraying Tomas'. This dream demonstrates just how desperate Tereza feels and how under Tomas' control she truly is. There is sense of fear imbedded into this encounter, along with lack of choice and freedom which seems to reflect Prague as a whole. It is made clear to the reader that unless Tomas changes his behaviour and life he will lose Tereza, not from her leaving him, but from something closer to suicide. The other two main characters, Franz and Sabina, are Tomas and Tereza's parallel decisions in life, exploring how other relationships can fall apart despite the fact that at a glance Franz and Sabina appear the stronger couple.

This is a joyous read to anyone who is genuinely interested in pondering mild philosophy and learning about what life is like in a communist country. Kundera writes to teach his readers and he makes this clear by breaking from the narrative frequently to make a specific lesson or message that he is trying to put across crystal clear. However, a reader who longs for an exciting narrative with lots of adventure and twists should not pick up the Unbearable Lightness of being as you will then find yourself skipping large chunks of pages to find the next piece of narrative. Skipping the philosophy undermines what Kundera wanted from the Unbearable Lightness of Being. Kundera was not writing a quaint story about life in a communist country with a relationship in the background, he was writing philosophy of people in realtion to their relationships with communist Czechoslavakia in the background. Yet, i, not knowing what manner of book i had delved into, thoroughly enjoyed it. Kundera is a craftsman who manages to break with the narrative without the reader even noticing. At times it is as if Kundera is talking directly to me. Telling me stories from his youth with the names and places slightly changed. It is refreshingly simple in its premise and personal in its delivery.

ULOB- Karenin's smile

Summary

1. Tereza and Karenin's happy life in the country
2. Karenin's cancer
3. Karenin gave birth to two rolls and a bee, tomas recieves a mystery letter
4. Tereza's idyll- paradise
5. Karenin's death
6. Tomas is shot and turns into a rabbit
7. Mystery letters explained- the dance and happiness

Themes and motifs

• Camera
• innocence
• paradise
• banality
• shame
• love
• death
• strength and weakness
• rabbit
• dreams
• missions

Characters

Tereza

This section follows Tereza again. There is a sense that she is far happier than she has been at any other time. She still feels vulnerable but not as much as before. Oddly, she seems comforted by Tomas' incresing vulnerability as he ages. Karenin;s sickness and death greatly disturbes her. However, as Karenin seemed to represent all of Tereza's doubts of infidelity ( that being the reason why he was bought and why she poured all of her love into him) his death also foreshadows Tereza's trust in Tomas and thus her happiness

Tomas

Tomas has found peace in the countryside. He is no longer able to cheat on Tereza but this seems to benefit both of them. He is resolved as to that surgery was not his reason for living. It was his experieinces and emotions ( such as loving Tereza)

Narrative Voice

The narrative voice is much happier and content than it has been for most of the book. The symbols are less to do with death and depression than for most of the book. Kundera has left the heavy issues of politics to pursue the emotional ending of his characters and pass on his message for life and love. The ending is sudden and leaves one hanging. This could reflect real life ( it ends suddenly) or just an interesting way for Kundera to end the novel.

Place

The countryside seems to represent paradise found. Tereza especially mentions this fact. Things that are banal and odd are the norm. No one has shame. Kitsch does not rule.

ULOB- The Grand March

Summary

1. stalin's son and shit
2. Stalins' son- son of god
3. Does God have intestines?
4. Adams virile member
5. Kitsch
6. Sabina and May Day
7. The senator and happiness
8. Kitsch and communism/america
9. totlaitiarian kitsch
10. Tereza and Sabina compared
11. sabina's enemy = Kitsch
12. Was she a hippocrit?
13. political kitsch
14. Franz wants to go to Cambodia
15. Americans taking over in Cambodia
16. American Kitsch
17. Photographers at the parade
18. The actress wants the spotlight
19. Death of a photographer in the mine field
20. The end of the march
21. laughable play acting
22. retreat
23. The four categories of people
24. The dreamers Franz and Simon
25. Sabina in california
26. Franzs' attack
27. death of Franz
28. irony in death
29. kitsch in death

Themes and Motifs

• Happiness
• Kitsch
• shit
• politics
• communism and capitalism
• american and communist similarities
• death
• irony
• art
• camera
• control

Characters

Sabina

Sabina becomes more distant in the novel. She tries to run away again and again from her fear of being weighed down. She appears very unhappy and lonely.

Franz

Idolises Sabina. Constant dreamer. He wants to stop being Kitsch but is too sentimental and wishy washy...he is portrayed as naieve and very very stupid in his decisions, especially towards the end of his life.

Simon

Tomas' son becomes a much fuller character in this section. We see how needy he is of a connection to the father he never knew. There is an impression of him being religious by his use of vocab.

Narrative Voice

This section is perhaps the most political of all. Kundera seems intent of making the point that there are many similarities between america and USSR especially in terms of Kitsch. The reader gets the impression that Kundera does not approve of either consitiution

Place

Place becomes important once again in this section. Contrasted are Russia, america and Cambodia. Kundera uses different situations within these countries to demonstrate how similar and futile the fight against Kitsch is in all these countries. The idea of control within them all is also explored. Especially through cameras.

ULOB- Lightness and weight - women and the scapel

Summary

This chapter (chapter 9) explores Tomas' need for mistresses and conquering.



Context

• Explains to the reader how he can continually cheat on Tereza


• Philsophy of Tomas


• leads to greater understanding of Tomas, what makes him tick


• Developing Tomas' need of control


• Obsession


• Discovery


• conquest


• Scientific approach

Scapel

Kundera discusses how Tomas wanted to dissect each womans individual essence with a scapel. By using this word he emphasises Tomas' innate logical mind and scientific approach. This is underlined further when we see him verbal protocoling a particular womans essence when he divides her individuality into three categories or motifs. This word choice of the scapel and him slicing open women is also a sexual innuendo and creates images in the mind of other slicing motions that Tomas will be doing with these women.

So it was a desire not for pleasure (the pleasure came as an extra, a bonus) but for possesion of the world (slitting open the outstretched body of the world with his scapel) that sent him in pursuit of women.

ULOB- Lightness and weight 2

Summary

1. oedipus
2. communist regime- lack of freedom- Tomas' article
3. The debate of retraction
4. Everyone assumes he will do it
5. The minister of the interior
6. The ministers new idea
7. Es muss sein and being a doctor
8. Beethoven, es muss sein- window cleaner
9. Women and the scapel
10. Lyrical and epic womanizers- giraffe woman
11. sex with giraffe woman and disecting her essence
12. Tomas' lack of beauty with his sexual conquests/poetic memory- rug girl
13. Meeting with the son
14. Tomas does not sign
15. The image from which tomas was born and life is not repeated
16. Rebirth , optimism and pessimism
17. Two years of holiday exhausting
18. The failed holiday in the country and Tereza's dreams
19. Czech life changed
20. Meeting with an old colleague
21. Tomas discovers what Tereza thinks about his hair
22. aggresive stupidity of sex
23. femine calm, bulrush basket and Tereza

Themes

• es muss sein
• repetition
• holiday
• change
• love
• sex
• conquest
• control
• lightness and weight
• duty
• optimism and pessimism

Motifs

• bulrush basket
• oedipus
• scapel and disection of female essence
• poetic memory

Character

Tomas is the only character in this section really. Even Tereza we only meet once. All the characters in this section seem to be 2D to throw off of Tomas. The character S for instance. As his name is simply S this implies that he has a small insignificant role as he is not important enough even to have a real name. None of the other characters have names, they are simply minister, giraffe woman, S, son etc.

Tomas is confused with life and unsatisfied. He seems to ponder if his life is fruitless and how it has become that way. He still is very cold and emotiinless but becomes more aware of this fact.

Place

More imporatantly in this section rather than place in terms of setting (which has not changed as we're still in prague) is place in life which is really what Tomas spends this section exploring; what his place in life is and whether it is the right one or whether its even worth thinking about it.

Narrative Voice

The narrative voice is very different once again in this section. The lacunae become more frequent and Kundera begins to step out of the story again. It seems that Kundera is at his most analytical and philosophical with Tomas. This section is fraught with a light confusion as to whether Tomas has made the correct choices and for the right reasons as Kundera analyses all these decisions and possibilties of others which make the reader doubt Tomas' decisions and decision making abilities.

ULOB Soul and Body 2- Petrin Hill

Summary

Tereza is sent to Petrin Hill by tomas where people are voluntarily being executed. It is never stated that this encounter is a dream.

Context

• Assuming that this is a dream then there are parallels with the Swimming pool dream themes
• death
• control (especially concerning tomas being in control and power over Tereza.)
• Reality and Unreality are blurred showing Tereza's fragile state of mind.
• Tereza = feeling threatened
• Betrayal (Both ways, tereza and tomas have betrayed each other)
• Lack of choice - Prague, threat , secret police- these feelings of the city seem to be personified by Tereza; tomas therefore is Russia personified

Rifle/camera

Each of the volunteers is shot with a rifle but in Tereza's warped mind this could be symbolising how she herself put lives in jeopardy by taking pictures of the prague spring which were then used later on to arrest revolutionaries. The camera has gone from being a symbol of freedom and art to Tereza to being one of threat and death. However, as her art becomes death her freedom has thus been suppressed and Tereza feels repressed. This is further emphsised by the blindfolding. Tereza specifically asks not to be blindfolded as she is afraid of her senses being isolated. She feels that this isolation would further repress her. Also, there is the interesting image of each victim choosing their own tree to die against. This is so out of place that it must be an important motif that Kundera wishes the reader to pick up on, however, i find it difficult to fathom specifically what this is. The idea that the tree represents life seems too simple... could it perhaps symbolise czech culture being covered with death? This idea only really seems to make sense if the trees or forest is particularly important in czech life...

...'No, no it wasn't my choice at all!' but she could not imagine betraying Tomas.

This quote demonstrates the themes of control, dependance and betrayal. The speech is what Tereza wished she was able to say. the repetition of the word 'no' demonstrates how strongly she feels about the situation. The use of the word choice instead of decision also seems significant. By using the word choice rather than decision Kundera personalises the situation. Decision is a formal word that is connotated with matters of state, complications and complexity, whereas choice has much lighter connotations. Choice is a less formal word, it is simpler and all encompasing. We have freedom of choice rather than freedom of decision. The reader can therefore empathise with Tereza in this situation more. At the same time, it removes power from the executioner by using this informal word and makes it easier for tereza to withdraw. This seems to symbolise Tereza's view of Tomas who she finds intimidating until the odd moment when he shows care and affection thus allowing Tereza to open up and sob on his shoulder as she discuses later on in this section.

ULOB Soul and Body 2

Summary

1. Karenin wakes Tereza.


2. Radio politics- tension- no privacy


3. umbrella fight with women


4. concentration camp= Terza's past/mother


5. Body reflecting the soul?


6. what's in a soul?


7. Persecution and lack of privacy- man identified by photos of prague spring


8. flirtation and fidelity


9. Drunk boy flirts with Tereza


10. flirtation with engineer


11. Tomas' hair =infidelity...he asks her to go to petrin hill


12. Petrin Hill


13. No blindfold for Tereza at Petrin Hill


14. Tereza's grief


15. The Engineer's lure


16. In the flat of the engineer


17. banal sex with engineer


18. The engineers toilet


19. Tereza leaves


20. The crippled crow


21. The crow dies


22. Tereza looks in the mirror


23. Fear of the 'engineer'


24. Fear of the secret police


25. Holiday- identity of Czechoslavakia has changed


26. Fear of Tomas knowing her infidelity


27. Paranoia and confusion


28. Benches in the river

Themes and motifs

• Soul and body


• Crudeness


• Death


• forced situations


• Fear


• Paranoia


• Confusion


• Vertigo


• The body


• nudity


• the past vs the future


• benches in the river


• aesthetisism


• the crow


• identity

Characters

Tereza

This section focuses almost solely on Tereza. We fid her dissatisfied with life, paraoid of threat, fearing Tomas and other women. She feels too emotionally attached and wishes she could live more like her mother and be more of a body than a soul. This is why she constantly feels vertigo.

Tomas

By the sole act of Petrin Hill Tomas becomes more sinister. As this section does not come from his point of view we cann't know his reasoning behind it. He appears cold, emotionless. Tereza's opposite as she constantly bursts into tears in this section. He is perceived as strong in his coldness.

The Engineer

A relatively unexplored character. He is shrouded in mystery. We do not discover if he is a member of the secret police or not. He is alien and different.

Place

Set in Prague once more. Prague has become fractured. A place of paranoia. All the inhabitants seem to live in fear of discovery of blackmail or sin. We are reminded that Prague is not the romatisised fatasy of Franzs' imagination. There are various references to Prague and Czechoslavakia becoming Russian and no longer having its own identity.

Narrative Voice

Soul and Body 2 is far more narrative than any other section so far. Kundera chooses to show us this emotional stage of Czech history through Tereza as this means that the emotioanl side of it, the entrapment of the situation can e fully seen as only a character such as Tereza can fully display the fear and paranoia within the USSR's 'occupation'.

ULOB- words misunderstood

Summary

1. Geneva- Franzs' mistress sabina, bowler hat misundertstandment


2. Sabina's dissapointment in lack of frenzs' understnading of bowler hat


3. misunderstood words- woman, fidelity and betrayal, music, light and darkness


4. Sabina meets fellow emigrees


5. Misunderstood words- parades, beauty of new york, Sabinas country, cemetry


6. Marie-claude art gallery


7. Misunderstood words- the church in amsterdam, strength, living in truth,


8. Sabina decides to leave Franz


9. Sabina is gone


10. Sabina in paris


11. Franz's idolisation of Sabina

Themes and motifs

• contrasts


• misunderstanding


• bowler hat


• betrayal


• fidelity


• truth


• beauty


• judgement

Characters

Franz

Franz is parallel to Tereza. He is less weak/ dependant than her but is just as needy emotionally. He also has very idealistic views of truth, beauty and love. However, unlike Tereza who thinks she is unworthy of such romance, Franz wishes to immerse himself in it. He appears naive... especially in terms of his relationships.

Sabina

Sabina is parallel to Tomas. She is strong, dominant and wants to be in control of her own life. Her independance is very important to her; just like Tomas. Sabina seems to illustrate the other choices that Tomas could have made... perhaps to show to the reader which is the more fulfilling path even though one is more work? Her art and the sense of being different to others is also important to Sabina. The reader has the impression in Misunderstood words that she misses Tomas.

Place

This section is set in Geneva mainly, but also visits other European and one american city. Geneva is the opposite of Prague. It is orderly, peaceful and quiet. It seems that Kundera wishes to portray opposites in every sense. Franz thoroughly loves the serenity of Geneva but is drawn by the romance of being in a chaos city such as Prague. Sabina does not seem to feel at home anywhere... At every place that she lives she finds something to betray and run from. In Geneva Sabina finds a hippocitical natureto the city which she finds abhorrent...along with Franz who seems to good to be true.

Narrative Voice

The Narration still flows seamlessly despite the frequent lacunae. I think Kundera manages this by linking ideas from one chapter to the next... having the narration of the story merely being a menas to explain the philosophical point he wishes to make. The fact that he is telling a story is less emphasised in this section.