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“. . . Where people love with all their body and soul (yes, Lucie, body and soul). . .” (Kundera, pg. 265)
Milan Kundera’s first novel, “The Joke,” was torn apart and misunderstood as a political piece and a novel of brutality against women. Once the reader reaches beyond these overarching principles though, there is much to be said of Kundera’s hopes. His tragic tale of devastating love between Lucie, Helena and Ludvik demonstrates the yearning for love with both body and soul. In every instance Ludvik cannot fully participate in sexual love at the same moment of experiencing complete tender love. His bouts with sex are all but aggressive acts of pleasure that read more like rape rather than eroticism.
While in the mines in the all but depressing living conditions he is able to come close to that fullness of love with Lucie. After a walk in which Lucie gives him flowers Ludvik states, “ I was inhabited again. My inner space was clean and tidy. There was someone living then” (Kundera, pg. 59). Shortly after though, Ludvik’s lust for her is intertwined with his love in a confusing and devastating manner, resulting in what appears as attempted rape. Ludvik’s struggle with the duality of body and soul (represented as sexual pleasure and heartfelt love) is aligned with the Communist totalitarianism present in the novel.
Please read the rest of this article here:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5798804/milan_kundera_and_the_jokebody_and.html?cat=2
Milan Kundera’s first novel, “The Joke,” was torn apart and misunderstood as a political piece and a novel of brutality against women. Once the reader reaches beyond these overarching principles though, there is much to be said of Kundera’s hopes. His tragic tale of devastating love between Lucie, Helena and Ludvik demonstrates the yearning for love with both body and soul. In every instance Ludvik cannot fully participate in sexual love at the same moment of experiencing complete tender love. His bouts with sex are all but aggressive acts of pleasure that read more like rape rather than eroticism.
While in the mines in the all but depressing living conditions he is able to come close to that fullness of love with Lucie. After a walk in which Lucie gives him flowers Ludvik states, “ I was inhabited again. My inner space was clean and tidy. There was someone living then” (Kundera, pg. 59). Shortly after though, Ludvik’s lust for her is intertwined with his love in a confusing and devastating manner, resulting in what appears as attempted rape. Ludvik’s struggle with the duality of body and soul (represented as sexual pleasure and heartfelt love) is aligned with the Communist totalitarianism present in the novel.
Please read the rest of this article here:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5798804/milan_kundera_and_the_jokebody_and.html?cat=2