The Unbearable Lightness Of Being By Milan Kundera

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Recommended: The portrayal of women in literature

Outline.
• Prescribed question: If the text had been written in a different time or place or language or for a different audience, how and why might it differ?
• Title of the text: The unbearable lightness of being by Milan Kundera.
• Part of the course: Part 4.
• Key points of the task.
 The task will focus on characters lifestyle in a different culture and society.
 The task will consider the type of text used in a different society.
 The type of language used will be analyzed.
 The effect it will have on audience will also be analyzed.
Written Task.
In the “Unbearable lightness of being” by Milan Kundera the relationship between Tomas and Tereza is unproportional – one is direct opposite of the other. As explained in the book through Friedrich Nietzsche’s eternal recurrence and the explanation of the opposition between lightness and weight. Tomas, who is a surgeon based in Prague was married to a woman who bore him a son. But, after two years they divorced, he was denied custody of the son and they parted ways. The divorce had some psychological effects on him because he started treating women differently. He becomes womanizer with certain basic rules of three, “Either you see a woman three times in quick succession and then never again, or you maintain relations over the years but make sure that the rendezvous are at least three weeks apart”. Tomas was later married to a young lady called Tereza. She is quite opposite of Tomas humble, respective and faithful but many would consider her naive. Even after marrying her he continues practicing adultery. Again, trying to be philosophical about sex, Tomas argues sex and love are two separate and unrelated entities. In the book the author says, “Making love with a woman and slee...

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...rinking anymore because alcohol is illegal in Saudi Arabia. Secondly and most importantly, he is not sleeping with other women hence, we will have to stick with Tereza and by hook or crook treasure her. Well, if Tomas will always be there for her then she wouldn’t need Karenin. After all, dogs are shunned as unclean and can only be used for guarding and hunting only but not as pets.
Tomas’ frustration pile up and decides to become a Muslim. At this point, he can legally marry a Muslim woman. Eventually, he could marry up to three other women. This would give him the chance to practice the rules of three. But, he will have to break the rule of sex and love being different because in this case they are all his wives and both are part and parcel of the marital agreement. On the contrary, it could be effective for sometime but would this be effective in the long run?

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