The theme of the work revolves around the existentialist dilemma of the unbearable lightness of being, exploring the complexities of human existence and the pursuit of meaning in life.
Introduction
Characters
Plot Summary
Review
Conclusion
Introduction
The novel "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" explores the existential anguish faced by individuals caught between lightness and weight in their approach to life, while containing philosophical discourse on love. Written by Milan Kundera and published in 1984, the novel was selected as one of Time magazine's Best 10 Novels of the 1980s.
Milan Kundera, born in Czechoslovakia in 1929, was the son of a pianist and learned music from his father at a young age. After graduating from university, he worked as a lecturer teaching world culture. In the communist regime of Czechoslovakia at the time, he engaged in anti-communist activities, leading to his expulsion from the Communist Party and subsequent banishment from his homeland. His works were prohibited from publication. He was expelled twice, the second time due to his involvement in the famous historical event known as the Prague Spring of 1968, which serves as the backdrop for this novel.
Featuring four main characters, each representing different philosophical views on love, the novel delves into complex themes. Despite its challenging subject matter, it garnered significant popularity and has even been adapted into film, demonstrating its enduring value as a literary work.
Characters
Four main characters, forming two couples, are featured in the novel. Tomas, a surgeon who grew up without a father, is married with a son but divorced; his new wife, a photographer named Tereza, also appears. Additionally, the novel introduces Sabina, a painter who becomes Tomas's new lover and the object of love for Franz, a university professor.
Plot Summary
Tomas, a surgeon from Czechoslovakia, moves to a small village to escape his position as a department head and meets Tereza, a waitress at a local restaurant. Tereza feels a fateful attraction to Tomas after he sees her reading "Anna Karenina". She impulsively travels to Prague to find him, and they begin living together in Tomas's apartment. Despite having a penchant for brief affairs, which contributed to his divorce, Tomas continues a relationship with his girlfriend, Sabina, who understands his nature well. Sabina even helps arrange a journalism job for Tereza. However, Tereza dislikes Tomas's promiscuity with other women and suffers from constant torment due to his behavior. In an attempt to ease Tereza's suffering, Tomas marries her and gives her a puppy.
Meanwhile, the Soviet army invades Prague to suppress the democratization movement, prompting Tomas, Tereza, and Sabina to flee Czechoslovakia for Switzerland. After settling in Switzerland, Tereza suddenly returns to Prague one day, and Tomas, missing her, eventually returns as well. Tereza takes a job as a waitress in a bar, while Tomas resumes his career as a surgeon. However, Tomas's past criticism of communism in a newspaper article becomes a problem, leading to his inability to continue practicing medicine. Unable to work as a doctor, he eventually becomes a window washer to make a living. One day, Tomas's son visits him, asking him to sign a petition for the release of political prisoners, but Tomas hesitates and ultimately refuses.
Additionally, Tomas's uncontrollable philandering causes further anguish for Tereza. Eventually, they move to the countryside and find moments of happiness through rural living. Unfortunately, they meet their demise in a car accident related to a business venture.
Meanwhile, Sabina, who stayed behind in Geneva, meets Franz, a married university professor. Franz becomes infatuated with Sabina and eventually leaves his wife to marry her. However, Sabina does not want to be married to anyone and abruptly leaves Franz one day, immigrating to the United States to pursue a life as a painter.
Left alone, Franz enters into a cohabitation arrangement with a female student who admires him. However, he eventually travels to Cambodia to provide medical aid amid the war, where he encounters bandits, suffers an attack, and returns to Geneva, only to meet his demise.
Review
In the scene where Tereza falls for Tomas, the book he was reading was Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina", a book I recently enjoyed reading myself, which made me pay even more attention to it being featured in this work. Anna, the protagonist of "Anna Karenina", leaves her husband and son to pursue her own happiness with her lover, Vronsky, which can be seen as representing the values of Tomas and Sabina. However, it's interesting that Tereza, who fell in love with Tomas while he was reading that very book, actually holds completely opposing values. Perhaps the author is subtly suggesting that a life like Anna's, and values like Tomas's, are more valid. The setting of Tomas reading "Anna Karenina" makes sense in this context, as it contrasts with Tereza's values.
The historical backdrop of the novel is the Prague Spring of 1968, a time when the democratization movement in Czechoslovakia was crushed by the Soviet Union. This period can be seen as a time of intense ideological confrontation, especially in Europe, where various ideologies such as Nazism, fascism, communism, and capitalism clashed sharply.
The author seems to question the legitimacy of the state or society's authority. A political aspect of the novel is seen when Tomas refuses to sign a petition for the release of political prisoners when his son visits him. This may indicate the author's belief that political ideologies are ultimately futile. The happiest time for Tomas and Tereza, towards the end of the novel, is when they leave the city for rural living, suggesting that happiness lies in living one's own life away from the ideological struggles of nations and political factions.
The title of the work, "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," prompts reflection on how one views life. There are two couples in the story, each with different values. Tereza and Franz seem to view life with a more serious attitude, while Tomas and Sabina appear more carefree. This leads to conflicts between the couples, as Tereza dislikes Tomas's freedom and Franz wants to marry Sabina, who doesn't want to be tied to anyone. These differences in perspectives on life result in the couples meeting and parting repeatedly. This is not to say that there is a definitive answer, but rather that each person's values differ. However, it seems that the author's personal inclination leans towards Tomas and Sabina's side.
The author questions the phrase "it must be this way," which often appears in the novel. By rejecting the notion that people must behave in a certain manner, the author portrays characters like Tomas and Sabina, who do not conform to societal norms. Furthermore, by depicting the somewhat futile deaths of Tomas, Tereza, and Franz, the author seems to express this concept. People who view life as heavy often feel a considerable sense of responsibility towards norms, but the author suggests that we do not necessarily have to live life that way.
Conclusion
As humans, we often assign various meanings to our lives, but fundamentally, life may have no inherent meaning, as suggested by existentialism. The title "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" can be seen as an expression of this existentialist view of life as inherently futile. However, it would be an oversimplification to view the work solely as an expression of existentialism. Rather, it more aptly depicts the transience of life through the conflicts arising from differences in people's values. Moreover, the author seems to convey the idea that true freedom lies in shedding all obligations and reasons for existence, as depicted in moments when characters break free from societal constraints.
