The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Part One- Lightness and Weight


This novel is set during the Cold War and at a time when in Russia there was a movement towards democracy and change. In particular the Prague Spring affects the lives of the characters within the story. The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia. It began on january 5th, 1968 when reformist Alexander Dubček came to power and continued until August 21st of the same year, when the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies invaded the country to halt the reforms. A partial withdrawal took place on 16th October 1968, but some Warsaw Pact troops would remain in the country and along its borders until mid-1987.

The novel begins with a very deep opening, saying if eternal return is true then everything else is irrelevant. Kundera also introduces philosophical ideas from both Nietzsche and Parmenides. We are also first introduced to the ideas of lightness and weight as a contrast. It sets up the philosophical framework which is referred to throughout the novel. Tomas is then presented and we learn of his first impressions of Tereza and how he is introduced to her and how she becomes a part of his life. We then get an insight into the background of Tomas’ life and discover Tomas’ weird sleeping habits with women. Tereza Suffers from strange dreams and Tomas attempts to comfort her but then she has another dream in which herself and other women are being shot at by Tomas. Chapter nine mainly talks about the meaning of words, in particular- the word ‘compassion’. Following this Tomas has sex with Tereza, during which he glances at his watch. Tereza is unhappy and hides his sock. Tomas realises she is suffering and decides to marry her. They get a dog which they name ‘Karenin’, which helps Tomas to keep track of things. He considers moving to Switzerland, yet he does not go. He is offered a job in Switzerland, he takes Tereza and Karenin with him, but Tereza leaves and he considers how he has a new position after Tereza has left. Tomas contemplates returning to Prague, we see emotional stress. Tomas is indecisive, he considers Tereza as a heaviness that has value and chooses weight over lightness. Tereza and Tomas discuss love and how he happened to meet Tereza seven years earlier and the ‘despair of having returned to Prague’.

The most obvious theme in part one is that of philosophy, especially referring to lightness and weight. Also themes of love and isolation seem to contrast one another as well as dreams. The division between what is positive and what is negative is also important to consider as a theme. We are introduced to three main characters in part one. Firstly we are introduced to Tomas who is a divorced doctor whom has very specific ideas about relationships with women. Tereza is brought in and shown to be very dependant women who feels threatened by other women and thus looks to Tomas to protect her. I also think that although Karenin is just a dog, he plays a very important character even thus far in the novel as he helps Tomas to keep track of things. The narrative voice is very important to consider and in this novel is the voice of the author. In part one it is mainly focused upon Tomas as a character.

I have not yet made up my mind about this novel. Not having read it all I cannot make a complete judgment of the book, but thus far I find it to be interesting, yet there is something about it that I dislike. I think it is the way that it jumps to different aspects and characters. In my opinion it is a more challenging read because in order to understand what is happening you have to be focused and I think in some parts it is very heavy. Even from the first paragraph it refers to philosophy and is already making the reader think and in my case confused. I had to read it several times to understand it. Usually a book would not begin with something so heavy, and instead start with something light in order to entice the reader into the rest of the novel, yet I think that Kundera has done this both knowingly and purposefully.