The Unbearable Lightness of Being

The title The Unbearable Lightness of Being represents a major theme that reoccurs throughout the book. Milan Kundera centers this theme on the relationship between Tomas and Tereza, the main characters. His writing centers on with whom and what his characters identify themselves with (Day). They are a married couple live in Prague during the Russian occupation. They have a bizarre relationship; Tomas cheats on Tereza incessantly, believing that "...the only relationship that can make both partners happy is one in which sentimentality has no place and neither partner makes any claim on the life and freedom of the other" (Kundera 12). This is the type of "lightness" of attitude Tomas exhibits throughout the novel. Conversely, Tereza is prone to "heaviness," meaning she carries weight wherever she goes and in everything she does. These two ideas shape the relationship between the two. The ideas are often at odds and cause problems for Tereza and Tomas. However, the ideas also explain why they are together and what makes them stay together.

It is impossible to explain the ideas of lightness and heaviness in this novel without discussi

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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1839
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)