Bridging between two novels: The ULB and We

I believe looking at these two novels there are many similarities that bridge and connect them together. In both books the idea of love and sex and privacy are explored and both hold far-from-the-norm views on the subject.

In the Unbearable Lightness of Being, Love and Sex as argued and shown through the main character Tomas, are completely different things and to be emotionally faithful to the one you love does not require sexual fidelity. The idea of sex is taken very lightly through characters such as Tomas and Sabina which reflects their total lightness as a character. This is then in contrast with Tereza, the 'heavy' character of the novel and Tomas' wife, who believes the opposite and is forever emotionally punished by Tomas's many liaisons.

In We, love and sex are also two different entities, the idea of love is forbidden by the state and sex is merely looked upon as a duty, something that is to be done if handed a pink slip. D-503 breaks this rule when he falls in love with I-330, another cipher seeking rebellion from the system.

Privacy is also another major theme in the two books as in We, we learn that every building, house and infrastructure is made up of glass, completely see-through for the whole of the state to see to ensure every cipher leads a completely open life in the spotlight and in The Unbearable Lightness of Being, private conversations are broadcast over the radio to show control and dominance and the lack of privacy.

Reflection on Comment Paper 1 - Venice

The author takes a satiric view on the way of life of the Venetians. This is shown through use of hyperbole and irony. An example of hyperbole used is when she describes Venice as "inescapably urban" suggesting that the town resembles a prison that no one can escape from....

The Unbearable Lightness of Being: Tomas & Tereza

Tomas

Tomas is an excellent surgeon that is well known for his many sexual relations he has with many different woman though keeping them all at arms length to ensure the women do not become attached. By this way of living alone he is practising the philosophy of lightness, which is discussed deeply in the book. Being a divorced man with a child that he does not feel is his responsibility and parents that he does not wish to keep in contact with, he believes that love and sex are completely separate entities and even though he does fall in love which is related to heaviness in the book, he lives with his love, Tereza, however while still seeing his mistresses, especially his favourite, Sabina.

Even though his mysterious intense love for Tereza adds some heaviness to Tomas' character, he still remains in the philosophy of lightness.

Tereza

Tereza represents the other philosophy explored in the book; the philosophy of heaviness or eternal return. This explores the idea that every past action effects the present action and that every action/decision will be repeated, therefore never being able to escape the past. Tereza is forever haunted by her eccentric mother and by Tomas' infidelities, this is shown by the role of nightmares that she experiences almost every night. Her love for Tomas is strong and unmistakeable but brings her much misery and where Tomas and Sabina are 'light', she is 'heavy'.

Tereza is portrayed as to be pure and innocent as Tomas sees their original meeting as Tereza being a "child put in a basket and sent downstream".