An excellent satirical novel can not only make readers laugh ,but also make them feel ashamed and introspected.I think Milan Kundera's Life is Elsewhere is exactly this kind of novel.
I think every reader will laugh at the protagonist ,whose life is totally guided by his unpractical dream.He has a girlfriend but he doesn't suppose to love her at all.He just thinks that fall in love with an ugry and poor girl without caring her outlook and social position is very high-minded.And he enjoys the feeling that he himself is great very much.So he is together with the girl.Also,his affected poems are somethings that like advertisments;To make himself seems special as a poet chosen by god.Of course,he is moved by them very much.In addiction,his political attitudes,his way of speaking and even his death eventually are the reasults of his dreams.Live is elsewhere,for him,life is in his unpractical dreams.
Maybe for all of us,it does so,life is elsewhere,in the dream.That's what makes me feel ashamed after laughing at the protagonist.For me,I also have what to do can make myself special and high-minded in my mind,which sometimes makse me not me,instead,a laughable man.
We can see from our daily lives that there are countless people affecting all the time.Some people may like to be against with other's opinions,but from heart,they may not support the ideas they are talking about.They just want to be thoughtful and critical.Some people like to change their dressing styles all the time,although they don't like many of the styles.They just want to be in fashin or impress others that they have wide interests.
Stop affecting,be ourselves,by heart not by dreams.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I was a little shocked when I saw Milan Kundera in the first paragraph, because that is what I was looking at this whole morning. After finishing the book I bought from China, The Catcher in the Rye, I've beening looking for good books all these days. And then I remembered that I always wanted to read his works in the old days.
ReplyDeleteI decided to choose a book from Life Is Elsewhere and The Unbearable Lightness of Being after all morning's efforts. Since you mentioned the former one, I think that is what I am going to read first. ^^
In terms of what you have written above, I can say nothing but that I can not agree more. Sometimes people do what they do only because others are doing it， which even can never be regarded as a real reason. I do not know whether it is the "follower" strategy or something just happens normally， but I can not deny that I am one of these kind of people once in a while. However, luckily that I've noticed this and want to avoid, and I am trying.
Hi Xiaodong I am pleasantly surprised that you have chosen to read this book (and you too Josie). Are they in English or translated? I read Catcher in the Rye as a student. About 3-4 years ago, I was reading a book on the 200 best books of all times, and Catcher was one of them. Your comments are most poignant in The Unbearable Lightness of Being. It's easy to say - hey, be yourself! But at times under peer influence, work influence, societal influence, we become trapped into becoming followers and we may not even be aware that we are!!
ReplyDeleteOf course, what I read is in Chinese. I am always a lazy boy. I have read The Unbearable Lightness of Being before, but I can't understand some parts of it. I will read it again if I get chance. Milan Kundera is a great writer, there is full of wisdom in his books. I really love them.
ReplyDelete