The Unbearable Lightness of Being

by Milan Kundera

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Student Question

Who are the "heavy" characters in The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera?

Quick answer:

In Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Tereza and Simon are the "heavy" characters, embodying commitment and seriousness. Tereza's heaviness contrasts with Tomas's carefree nature, symbolized by her large suitcase. Simon's religious devotion adds to his weightiness. Despite their lighter tendencies, characters like Tomas and Sabina ultimately make heavy commitments, such as Tomas's return to Czechoslovakia for love and Sabina's eventual acceptance of a traditional home.

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Tereza and Simon are naturally the "heaviest" characters in The Unbearable Lightness of Being, but all the characters are ultimately forced to make heavy commitments.

In The Unbearable Lightness of Being, the title suggests that life is only bearable if one chooses to be "heavy" at least sometimes. This means that all the characters are at least occasionally heavy. The one to whom this weightiness comes most naturally is Tereza, who cannot understand Tomas's lighthearted, carefree attitude. The large suitcase in which she carries her possessions symbolizes the heaviness of her character. Simon is also a naturally heavy character, with the weight of his religious commitment opposed to the flippancy of the other characters on this topic.

Even the lighter characters, however, are forced to make heavy commitments in the end. Tomas returns to Czechoslovakia, motivated by the "heavy" emotion of love for Tereza, even though he knows that he probably will not be able to escape. Similarly, Sabina ends up in a home which is traditional and "heavy," despite her earlier determination to remain free and uncommitted.

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