In the interactive oral, we discussed the theme of oppression through the character’s actions and the motif of dreams. The contextual elements such as prolepsis, and the significance of the chronologically displaced plot were briefly discussed.
The theme of oppression was extensively discussed. Deliberating Parmenides’ statement on lightness and weight deepened my understanding of the motive behind the seemingly irrational and absurd decisions made by the characters. For instance, upon my initial read, I understood that Tomas leaving his job as a successful surgeon to become a window washer was simply a reflection of the oppression prevalent in the society. Using Parmenides’s statement as a parameter for deconstructing the characters’ …show more content…
Over the course of the novel, Kundera uses narrative intrusions in several respects: to increase his own reliability as a narrator, to clarify the role of language and to firmly cement the metafictional novel in the realm of fiction. Through a close examination of The Unbearable Lightness of Being this essay will further argue that authorial intrusions become a vehicle to explore the binary opposition of lightness and weight in the novel.
By not only successfully immersing himself in the plot, but also distancing himself from it, Kundera successfully establishes his omnipresence and omniscience - two qualities that contribute to his reliability as a narrator. In addition to this, Kundera also assumes the roles of creator and director of the novel. This best reflected in the authorial intrusions in the novel. By incorporating authorial intrusions in the narrative technique, he eliminates the possibility of suspense or any sort of feeling that may want to make readers flip to the end, and inadvertently miss out on the philosophical issues …show more content…
These digressions make the intended meaning rather vague and ambiguous. In “Karenin’s Smile” for instance, just as he goes onto explain the sight of a very ill Karenin resting on the lap of Tereza, Kundera digresses into a scene involving Nietzsche, wrapping his arms around a horse being beaten, bursting into tears. Kundera seems to draw a parallel between the relationship of a human and an animal. Nietzsche felt compelled to wrap his arms around the horse because he believed animals had souls. Similarly, Tereza wanted to name all the cows in her village and shared a special relationship with a cow named Marketa (Kundera 281). Although the digression highlights the similarities between the two it does not necessarily contribute to an easier understanding of the novel. Thus, just as Sabina struggles in her pursuit for lightness, readers too struggle to find their way through the labyrinth of The Unbearable Lightness of
The theme of oppression was extensively discussed. Deliberating Parmenides’ statement on lightness and weight deepened my understanding of the motive behind the seemingly irrational and absurd decisions made by the characters. For instance, upon my initial read, I understood that Tomas leaving his job as a successful surgeon to become a window washer was simply a reflection of the oppression prevalent in the society. Using Parmenides’s statement as a parameter for deconstructing the characters’ …show more content…
Over the course of the novel, Kundera uses narrative intrusions in several respects: to increase his own reliability as a narrator, to clarify the role of language and to firmly cement the metafictional novel in the realm of fiction. Through a close examination of The Unbearable Lightness of Being this essay will further argue that authorial intrusions become a vehicle to explore the binary opposition of lightness and weight in the novel.
By not only successfully immersing himself in the plot, but also distancing himself from it, Kundera successfully establishes his omnipresence and omniscience - two qualities that contribute to his reliability as a narrator. In addition to this, Kundera also assumes the roles of creator and director of the novel. This best reflected in the authorial intrusions in the novel. By incorporating authorial intrusions in the narrative technique, he eliminates the possibility of suspense or any sort of feeling that may want to make readers flip to the end, and inadvertently miss out on the philosophical issues …show more content…
These digressions make the intended meaning rather vague and ambiguous. In “Karenin’s Smile” for instance, just as he goes onto explain the sight of a very ill Karenin resting on the lap of Tereza, Kundera digresses into a scene involving Nietzsche, wrapping his arms around a horse being beaten, bursting into tears. Kundera seems to draw a parallel between the relationship of a human and an animal. Nietzsche felt compelled to wrap his arms around the horse because he believed animals had souls. Similarly, Tereza wanted to name all the cows in her village and shared a special relationship with a cow named Marketa (Kundera 281). Although the digression highlights the similarities between the two it does not necessarily contribute to an easier understanding of the novel. Thus, just as Sabina struggles in her pursuit for lightness, readers too struggle to find their way through the labyrinth of The Unbearable Lightness of