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.