“The Unbearable Lightness of Being” By Milan Kundera Book Review

Milan Kundera in his The Unbearable Lightness of Being opposes lightness and weight  as two opposing notions  and two opposing approaches to life.  Kundera  uses lightness and weight as a description of philosophical notions. To him, the lightness is an unprejudicial attitude to all events and phenomena. Tomas and Sabina, the protagonists of the novel, have this kind of attitude to life. They do not want to be limited by political or social restrictions, and prefer to have  existence, not burdened by additional problems. They believe that it does not make sense to look for the meaning of life and prefer to enjoy small joys, living through every moment. They make an attempt to feel the “lightness of being”.  “If eternal return is the heaviest of burdens, then our lives can stand out against it in all their splendid lightness” (Kundera 5). Tereza and Franz, another two characters of the story, are opposed to Tomas and Sabina. They cannot enjoy the lightness of being. They are centered on its “weight”, or idea of constant return. Franz constantly looks for sense  and meaning. “ If every second of our lives recurs and infinite number of times, we are nailed to eternity as Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross. It is a terrifying prospect” (Kundera 5). Tomas and Sabina use light approach to life. At the same time, they cannot ignore reality, which surrounds them. Being away from political likings, they have to escape from their native country because is it occupied by the Communist troops. Kundera expresses apolitical position though his characters. His important characters express apolitical point of view. Franz, who has a strong political position, dies early.

Rick, the main character from the Casablanca movie   underlines that he is not interested in political situation. He lives in his own world, which is not influenced by political changes and such major events as war or occupation. People of different political background come to his bar and Rick does not mind this. His attitude to life can be paralleled to light attitude, represented by Sabina and Tomas from Kundera’s novel. Almost by the end of the movie Rick is not affected by political and social events. The meeting with Ilsa changes the situation, and Rick becomes active participant of events, which take place around him.

Works Cited

Kundera, Milan, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Harper&Row, New York Publishers,

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
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[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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