Words—whether written or spoken—tend to fail the characters in The Book of Laughter and Forgetting in spectacular ways. In Communist Czechoslovakia, words can destroy private citizens (just think of Mirek's ill-advised notes and of the label "intellectual") and cultures alike (think of the revision of history). Even the innocent use of language to write a life story can result in disastrous social behavior, as we see with the isolating phenomenon of "graphomania."
But it's not just words that can be destructive. In Kundera's vision of the world, anything that comes out of your mouth can be subversive. Take laughter, for instance: it can be innocent, but in origin—if you ask Kundera—it's really demonic. Laughter has a way of overthrowing the sacred and reducing the solemn to hilarity. In terms of communication, it can be a disaster. Laughter, like language itself, is by its nature slippery.
Questions About Language and Communication
- In what ways does language (spoken or written) put up barriers between characters in this work?
- How does language conceal or deceive? Does it ever reveal or enlighten?
- Why is graphomania a problematic condition, especially in terms of communication?
- How does language define relationships or characters in this text?
Chew on This
Language can sometimes destroy people, even when what is said isn't violent.
Language can be a pathway to immortality.