《不能承受的生命之轻》，复调理论，隐喻，借代，轻与重

Chapter4Data Analysis and Discussion

4.1Data analysisin polyphonic theoryMilan Kundera is aconscious experimenterof theart form of the novel.He incitedthe critics,in additionto theaddpolitical colorto hisworks andstrong philosophicalcritique in the contentof the work,more likelyto causetherenewal ofnovel creationconcepts andtechniques onboth theoreticaland practicallevels.In themarvel of the novelcan be writtenthis way,the readershave learneda series of newcreative techniques,including Kunderasdeepthoughts on the modernnovel tradition.Polyphony occupiesa criticalposition in the overallstructure of Kunderas novels.Polyphony is not onlyas astylisticterm,but alsotakes theformal prototypeand architecturalfactors of Kunderas novel poetics.It alsoserves asamethodological conceptthat dominatesthe narrativeposition anddiscourse strategyof Kunderas novel poetics,Which represents the culturalspirit of Kunderasnovelpoetic dialogue.If onlyone wordcan beused tosummarize thecharacteristicsofKunderasnovelpoetics,then the most appropriateone undoubtedlyis polyphony.In Kunderaspolyphonicworld,the polyphony of thenovefs styleis thebasis,and it is also a controversialaspect.Therefore,thepolyphonic artofKunderasnovels has a veryrich content.lt meansthe breakingof theboundaries ofstyles,essaysboldly integrated.The narrationis not only toldin singleline.A structurethat consistsof anumber ofclues withequalstatus is advocated in this way,which means that the characters of the novelno longerhave thedistinction betweentheprimary and the secondary,but themutual illuminationinstead.The noversnarrative nolonger hasto becoherent.On thecontrary,time linecan beinterlaced.It is the unityof thetheme thatmakes the novel continuous.To analyzethe content isto enterthe deeperlayers ofKunderas polyphonicworld.Li,2004This chapterwill analyze thecontents of the bookthrough twoaspects:stylistic polyphonyand timepolyphony.

4.

1.1Stylistic polyphonyThe polyphonyofstylistics is an innovationthat isindependent ofstylistic normsand typestereotypes,that is,the wholeclues areinseparable.The entrypoint ofKunderas analysisof thestructure of the novelis stylistic.Headvocates theintroduction of other genresin the novel creation.The parthe refersto is the classin thestylistic sense:the genre.A varietyof genresoutside the novel genreare presentedin the same novel,Chapter4Data Analysisand Discussionexpressing acommon theme,as in thepolyphonic music.Two ormore soundsmelodies aresimultaneously presentedand perfectlycombined together.Milan,1992The openingof the novel usesa smallessay toexplore thephilosophical issuesof eternal reincarnation and thebinary oppositionof Parmenides,through the emotional entanglementsand lifetrajectories amongsurgeon Thomas,female journalistTeresa,female painterSabina anduniversity lecturerFranz toexplore theirlife situation and thechoicesof lightness”and“heaviness”.The oppositesand contradictionsbetween the lightness and heaviness of lifeare revealedat the beginning of the novel.Then,starting fromThomass pointof view,the storyof Thomas andTheresa isdescribed.And at thesametime,the story is interspersedwith interpretationabout compassion.Interpretation,on theand“Es musssein!^^Must beso!.These twoparts appearin theformofrandom notes,thecombination of narrative and discussion perfectlypresentsthecontradiction between lightness and heaviness inThomass life.The firstand fifthpart of the novelare bothnamed light and heavy^^and inwhich theperspective wasfocusedon Thomas.The secondand fourthpart of the novelare named“spirit and flesh^and inwhich theperspective wasfocusedon Teresa.The irreconcilabilityof spirit andfleshbrings pain and heavinessto Teresa.The essenceof dreamsisthe fulfillmentof certaindesires.The repetitivesituation,like Theresaand agroup ofnaked womensinging aroundthepool,squatting,being hitby bullets,or executionon PeterHill torturesher alot.Milan Kunderaenters anddissectsthe innerworld ofTeresa throughher dreams---She didnot feelthe weightloss dueto theabandonment of the soul.While the uniqueness of the bodyshe pursuedwas ruthlesslydestroyed.The conflictbetween thesoul and the bodymadeher fearfuland uneasy.She sufferedfrom thedilemma oflightness and heaviness.Franz isa traditionalman whois loyalto loyalty.He isattracted byKafkas discourse“live in the realworld”.The relationshipwith Sabinamakes himaddicted butfalls into the trap,which makeshim suffer.And Sabinahasalways livedin betrayal.Living inreality isridiculous andunreachable forher.Any hidingand deceptiondoes notmakeher feelpainful,but it is assweet asit is.Narrative of the story,essay-style discussion,lexicographicinterpretation etc.Milan Kunderatruly showsthe misunderstandingbetween Sabinaand Franzand thechangebetween lightness and heavinessin theirlives.Xiong,

20144.

1.2Time polyphonyInMilan Kunderaswritings,history is not onlya factof thepast,but asynthesis ofthings and socialdevelopment.History isa uniqueform thatreflects reality and constantlyintersects withrealityandblendswith it.The logic and continuityof historicaltime aredisrupted toform a new picture.At the end of the firstpart of the novel,One nightafter Teresareturned toBohemia,Thomas thoughtof his“accidental“love withTeresa,feeling deeplydesperate.In desperation,he enduredthe stomachache.This episodereappearsattheend of the secondpart of the novel.However theplot isthat Thomassleeps latebecause of astomachache.Soon afterTeresa wakesup,she thinksof the“accidental“love withThomas.She thoughtof theresponsibilitythat“accidental“love betweenthem broughtto her.Theresa developeda senseof longingand fortunesforanewlife on the nightwhen Thomasfelt desperate.The sameplot reappearedafter a long time,and theoppositepsychology of the twocharacters wasrevealed.The disruptionof timecaused theabsurdity of the novel.Also,Thomass deathappeared severaltimes in thenovel.It wasfirst mentionedin thethird part of thenovelwhen narratingSabinas life in Paris.Sabina receiveda letterfrom Bohemia.Thomass sontold herin theletter thatThomas and Teresasdeath,which madeher couldnot calmdown fbralongtime.The nextappearance wasin thestoryof Simonin thesix partof thenovel.The telegramthat hereceived toldthe deathof Thomas.Such narrationsarenot simplyarranged accordingto thelogic of time,but by the arrangementofthetheme andstructure ofthenovel.Theoverturning ofthe story time and the narrativetime limitmakes thenovel havea deep meaning fromboth thenovelcreation and the readingexperience.The alternationofnarrativetime andstorytimemeansthat the novePsabandonmentof time and sequence,as wellas theemphasis onspace andstructure,have resultedin thespatializationeffect ofthenovel.The philosophy,dreams,and repetitivenarratives inThe UnbearableLight of Being createan artisticeffect inwhichthe narrativecontinues,but thestoryisstill.The spatializationeffect revolvesaround thesame theme-existence”,“kitsch,lightness and heaviness“is clearlypresented throughthe useof polyphony.Milan Kunderatranscendsthe limitationsoftime,pays attentionto thespatial structure.By reorganizing,concentrating on,repeatingnarratives,and integratingto recreatethecontentthat lacksinternal logic.The themeofthenovel hasalso beenhighlightedand deepened.Xiong,

20144.2Data analysisin rhetoricaldeviceThere aremany rhetoricaldevices ofMetaphor and metonymy in this novel.The properuse can not onlyhelp tomake the charactersmore life-like,but alsoto makethe textmore logicaland moresmooth.As awriter whoisextremely goodat writing,Milan Kunderauses hisrhetoric to express thepersonalities ofChapter4Data Analysisand Discussioncharacters.A vividlife of theprotagonists isunfolded beforeour eyes.This chapterwill analyzesome ofthe useof metaphorsand metonymiesinthe novel.

4.

2.1MetaphorMetaphor isnot onlya figureof rhetoric,but alsoa wayof thinkingand cognition.Lakoffs definitionof thenatureof metaphorcan beunderstood as:Understanding andexperiencing somethingthrough anotherthing.Metaphor existsnotonlyin languagebut alsoin thought,activity,and behavior^^.Lakoff,1980Metaphor hasaconstructive effecton mostconcepts,and ourentire conceptsystem itselfis largelymetaphorical.Kundera saidin the book:The heavierthe burdenis,the closerour lifeto theearth is.And themore realtheexistence is.On thecontrary,when theburden disappearscompletely,people will become lighterthan theair andwillfloat away.The earthand theliving peopleon theground existsin semi-real way.Their movementswillbecomefreeand meaningless”.Milan,2013Thomas isthecharacterwho swingsbetween lightness andheaviness.The carryingofthe missionofthemotherland,the responsibilityfor thepatient in theworkandtheresponsibility ofthe familytothe wifecan allbe describedas the heaviness of life.Thomass dreammetaphors Thomassembarrassment anddoubtbetween lightness andheaviness.The heavyresponsibilities havemade himeager tofind anexport oflightness insexgames.Metaphor isthe mostprominent rhetoricaldevice inthis book,which isexpressed byKarenin firstly.Karenin isadog thatThomas boughtfor his wife Teresa.Thomas isguilty of his wifein thesubconscious,while heis stilllookingfor joy.He knewthat doingso wouldmake hiswife stagnate,but neverwant tochange himself.So heboughta doginanattempt to give Teresasome emotionalsupports.Karenin isa femaledog with a funnyface,but hasa malenameThe nameof Annashusband inAnna Karenina”,which ismentioned manytimes inthebook.Thomas isconstantlypursuing newlove,which bringsTeresa nightmaresconstantly.Karenins funnyface isjust likeits ownersembarrassingsituation.Karenin alsoalluded to the lifeand destinyoftheThomasand hiswifeTeresa.In thenovel,Thomas regardsthis freesingle life,which can be sexuallyconnected withmultiple oppositesexes,as oneofthesymbols oflightness oflife.To thisend,Thomas evengave upthe loveof humanitywith hiswife,parents,and children.Thomas believesthat loveisaresponsibility,a burden,the heaviness andthedistortion oflife.But everythingchanged afterThomas metTeresa.Single Thomasmarried thehostess Teresafor strangesympathy,which betrayshis lightlifestyle.This kindof emotionbased onthe natureoflifemakeslife becomeheavier,even theRussian tankscannotbe comparedwith.Thomas,who hasalways beenbetweenlightness andheaviness,is actuallyin pain.Like themetaphor inhis dreams,he willwake upfrom hisdreams withdesiresto escapethe lightnessoftheflesh.But hecant Zhang,2012The fifthpartofthenovelis based ontheancient legend of Oedipus,which leadsto thestory thatthe articlewaswritten byThomas.Thomas believedthatthedisaster andfall of his motherlandwas causedbytheignorance ofactivists.So thesepeople should be pokedlike Oedipus.He wrotean articletitled Oedipus”toexpresshis viewthatpolitical prisonersshouldbeseverely punished.Later,he wasrepeatedly summonedfor interrogationby this articleand hewas undersuspicion ofhaving abad motiveto writethisarticle.Afterwards,he gavehimself anexplanation.The reasonwhy hereviewed thelegendofOedipus was the scenethat Teresacame tohim andshe had a highfever onthesofa thatnight.He lookedat herat thattimeandthought thatshe wasthe legendarychild inthe resin-coated basket.This isa metaphorwitharich metaphoricalcolor thatsymbolizes theweak of this era,and thisweak personalsoincludes hisnation andcountry.The useof metaphorsfurther enrichesthe layeringofthe article.

4.

42.

52.

73.

73.

94.

94.

114.

124.

1.1Research backgroundMilan Kunderaisbest knownfor theUnbearableLightnessofBeing,which invitesnumerous interpretationsanddiscussions amongpeople.Through theinterpretation ofthe public,this classicasacontemporary foreignliteratureshows itsown uniquecharm.MilanKunderahas carriedout aprofound explorationof eachof thesethemes byconstructinga deepspiritual connectionbetween hischaractersandreaders.The reasonwhy hecan usesuch profoundknowledgeinthewriting processand describesuch topicsand charactersin eachnovel sodeeply isthat hehadalot ofexperienceinthepast.The noveldescribestheemotionallifebetweenThomasandTeresaandSalina.But itisnota trigonometriclovestorybetweenamanand twowomen.This bookis morelike aphilosophicalnovel.By startingfrom thediscussionof“eternalreincarnation”,thenovelbrings readersinto aseriesofthinking.Such aslightness andheaviness,spiritandflesh.Starting froma differentviewpoint,thispaperapproachesthestory byanalyzing the“Lightness“andtheHeaviness”.

1.2Significance ofthis projectMymotivation canbe concludedby threeaspects.First,my insightscanbeincreased anda betterunderstandingof thebook willbe get.Second,different ideascanbeexchanged throughthis way.In addition,writing recordsideas.It isalsoatest ofthe abilityfor fouryears.And tomake usthink andgiveusreference inreal lifeis reallyimportant.The clearunderstanding of“lightness“andthe“heaviness“can inspireus tothink about thelightandheavychoices inour dailylives.Starting fromthe commonalitiesof individuals,wecanexplore thedeepmeaningof humansociety inthe choiceof“lightness”and“heaviness”.

1.3Methodology ofthe researchTheresearch isdata-based.Starting fromthe theoryof polyphonyandrhetoricaldevices,thispaperanalyzes thewritinglogicandthe rhetoricalapplications inthelightnessandheaviness.

1.4Structure ofthe dissertationThisdissertation consistsof fivechapters.Chapter Oneoffers abrief introductiontotheresearch backgroundandpresents anoutline oftheresearch.Chapter Twoisanaccount ofprevious scholarshipon relevanttopics andissues.The nextchapter dealswiththetheoretical frameworkoftheresearch,namely Polyphonictheory.ChapterFour focusesonadetailed analysisanddiscussionaboutthestory.And ChapterFive drawsa conclusionfor thestudy.。