Milan Kunderas The Unbearable Lightness of Being Essay -- Milan Kunde

Milan Kunderas The impermissible Lightness of BeingThe themes of dominance and dehu hu homosexualkindization are inextricably entwined end-to-end history and, therefore, literature. Milan Kundera addresses this concept in his novel, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by describing the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia and its commieic influence on his characters, the interrelations of these characters, as well as its implications in a small excerpt on mans presumed dominance all over other creatures. This last passage ties together the mechanization of tidy sum with that of animals, masking that the citizens of communist Czechoslovakia are expected to become no more than chattel.The corporal invasion of Czechoslovakia by Russia is manifested within the novel by the affect its communist regime has on the native inhabitants of, in this case, Prague. Czech citizens were told that, for their benefit, they must feign solidarity and remove distinctiveness from among them. Czech beliefs were dominated by Russian noble-mindedness and individuals were mechanized by a desire for uniformity. This theme is woven throughout the novel, depicted in forms inseparable from the characters and Kunderas sporadic autobiographical insights.Throughout the novel, Kundera uses the concepts of people being mechanized by communism and animals being mechanized by people. ?Mechanical? is a term that refers to that which is automatic, involuntary, emotionless, and unthinking. The actual application of communism, as debate to its theoretical intentions, lends itself to this unconscious acceptance and conformity. The men and women of Prague will be obligate to take an apathetic approach to individuality, career, society, religion and especially politics. Like machi... ...? (289). Ideally, man would show mercy to his fellow human being instead of everlastingly trying to gain power over him. Russia?s invasion of Czechoslovakia is an stew of power, a claim of dominance ov er the will of another country. Its dehumanization of the inhabitants of Czechoslovakia directly correlates to man?s assumption of power over animals. transcendency is a presumed right, justified less by truth than by man?s will to justify.The images Kundera uses to illustrate the invasion of Czechoslovakia are both scanty and revealing. They are images of concentration camps, naked uniformity, dominance over dependent creatures, and mechanically skillful humans and animals alike. Tomas?s conquests and Tereza?s dreams are manifestations of a country in a struggle for its independence. With these characters, Kundera humanizes the essentially inhumane concept of communism.