In The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera, the curious Tereza reflects on what makes her unique. As he looks in the mirror he wonders if the change in his physical characteristics could affect who he is inside; whether his outer shell affects his emotional and mental state. Kundera allows his characters to explore the finer points of “self” and “being” by peppering his novel with thoughtful moments like the one with Tereza and the mirror. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayKundera never formally introduces his characters, but immerses the reader directly into the deepest part of the plot, completely avoiding scale. Without a physical description, the reader is forced to invent his own mental image, giving him leeway to shape the characters. We never worry about the physical traits of the characters; reference is rarely made to their external appearance. Instead, the reader dives into the intimate thoughts of characters he barely knows. The only common bond between all four characters is sex, which permeates every encounter and is one of the best ways to distinguish between groups. Each of the four characters has a "self". It is purely external, something that can be experienced before knowing one's own attitudes, mannerisms, or feelings. Hair texture, eye color, and lip shape are all part of the characters' "self." They also possess a 'being', which is everything that the 'self' is not, essentially, the indispensable qualities that distinguish one person from another. Being also includes the set of decisions that each character makes. These decisions shape the essence and help determine why characters behave the way they do. Tomas' being can be defined by his obsessive and unrepentant womanizing. His philandering is what ties him to Tereza in the first place and what keeps him close to Sabina. It is also characterized by his avoidance of responsibility, something he chose to leave behind when he abandoned his first wife and son. The life Tomas chooses next of "erotic friendships" and bachelor life further describes what makes Tomas truly himself. Only when he has sexual relations with multiple women, taking something from each of them, is he truly in his element. He can easily distinguish between sex and love and refuses to give up his affairs even when he realizes that he loves his wife. Tereza is on the other end of the spectrum, demonstrating that her “being” is radically dissimilar by standing by Tomas. in all his affairs. His "being" can be characterized by his fierce loyalty and desire to be unique to his loved one. She desires an exclusive relationship with Tomas, something that seems unattainable because he refuses to end her affairs. Tereza wants to be different and special from all the women Tomas continues to have sex with, and she can't do that because as long as he continues to have affairs, he's telling her that monogamy isn't worth it. The feeling of not being special is destroying his "being" and begins to seep into his dreams. In one of her nightmares she looks exactly like every other woman walking around the pool, and this ultimately leads to her death. Tereza can't distinguish between love and sex, even though she tries by having an affair. She is emotionally needy and very attached to Tomas, despite his flaws. We can see what kind of character Tereza is because she clings to Tomas' hand the first night they spend together, and every night after that. Sabina's being can be characterized by her betrayals. He loves clandestine affairs and will abandon anyone,.