"[...] in fact, I doubt that the hedonist ideal could ever be achieved; I'm afraid the sort of life it advocates for us may not be compatible with human nature."
Because hedonism is temporary- like he said, it brings more unhappiness than happiness. Later- he's asks again whether hedonism could be realized- in almost a desperate tone.
"Imposing form on a period of time is what beauty demands, but so does memory. For what
is formless cannot be grasped, or committed to memory."
I like the way the woman constructed time and divided the night into 3 parts- prolonging arousal so that this can be impressed on the mind and make it more exciting instead of just listening to immediately instinct. "Conceiving their encounter as a form was especially precious for them, since their night was to have no tomorrow and could be repeated only through recollection." Therefore it was very important that it would be remembered in a form.
Slowness and remembering are connected.
"Vulva: noisy crossroads where all of chattering humankind meets, a tunnel the generations file through."
"It did not take place because Vincent's member is as small as a wilted wild strawberry, as a great-grandmother's thimble."
The most entertaining personification I've come across so far- Kundera and the character's "member" having a dialogue...
All these characters are wonderfully justifying what they want to believe...
The play repeats itself again and again- these dynamics of dominant and submissive. Torture each other to infinity for selfish reasons. "Thus everything can go on and the play they just performed tonight for the first time will be repeated in the days and weeks to come."
"When things happen too fast, nobody can be certain about anything, about anything at all, not even about himself."
Yes- like he said- in a second your past seems so certain and calm, while now everything is chaotic and frightening.
"our period is obsessed by the desire to forget, and it is to fulfill that desire that it gives over to the demon of speed; it picks up the pace to show us that it no longer wishes to be remembered; that it is tired of itself; sick of itself; that it wants to blow out the tiny trembling name of memory."
I can agree with him even in this period- actually more so because now it's become the fashion to forget. People forget so easily nowadays- the most tragic catastrophes fade away in a few weeks.War, civil war, epidemics, natural disasters... pff everyone is too busy trying to forget his own existence
"[...] it stands up against the universe like Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which, in the face of gloomy humankind, roars out its hymn to joy."
Absolutely stupendous.
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A story about people's need to be loved- I think. They reacted in certain ways because of wounded pride/feelings. The concept of dancers- people who live for the sensual pleasure of attention- is very interesting. The question was- whether we were all dancers- like the guy said about cameras, cameras are everywhere. And even without cameras, people can IMAGINE the abstract audience and pretend to be acting. This need for attention transfers them into the ELECT- and therefore makes their life meaningful and unique.
Characters and relations:
Madame T and Chevalier- she plays with him, constructing the entire night for her sole pleasure- Kundera writes that she was the only one which at least was the closest in finding happiness through hedonsim- pure sensuality.
Vincent and Julie- Vincent hates Berck and is very troubled by him, therefore uses Julie to forget things "the asshole/supreme portal" but in fact he's only interested in his ego boost- wherever he can get it from. Their performance in front of the imaginary stage portrays all of their interests. Vincent was acting for them, while Julie was acting because she liked Vincent, and also because she was humiliated by the pretentious company at the party I think he suffered because he was always in Pontevin's shadow, he could never become the real "dancer", so he used people like Julie which worshiped him to boost his ego. In this way, Chevalin was also used by Madame T for her own pleasure.
Berck/Immaculata/cameraman- Berck is one of the dancers in this story- so is Vincent's "mentor/best friend" Pontevin. Berck is in constant insecurity about having an audience and is in constant search for new things to keep it going. Immaculata poses a danger for him because it reminds him of his younger days when he was a "fool"- even though now he is just as a fool. Immaculata uses the cameraman in a sadistic way (because she is hurt that Berk doesn't want her); constantly wanting to see his proof of love to her by abusing him. He pretends to hate her but acting out of weakness- which she knows. Very sick.
the scientist- guy which was in extreme denial and wanted to be loved again by an audience- full of himself and constantly "protects" his ego- telling himself lies even when he realizes that everyone takes him as a joke
This story was also about forgetting. All characters were trying to forget something, and so they engaged in hedonism- no matter what kind, sexual or attention seekers... they were trying to run away from something- except for Madame T.
Why did the Chevalier and Vincent meet at the end? What do they have in common? Chevalier was used by the madame, while Vincent is an wana-be elect. And they didn't understand each other- Vincent wanted to boast about his lie (nothing happened that night) while the Chevalier was humiliated by the madame and didn't want to listen to him. Vincent actually insulted the Chevalier. What is the meaning?
The ending is very concrete: "No tomorrow. No audience" and that is where sensuality reigns for it can be kept in memory. For the audience disappears when they have found something else more entertaining, the memory itself is not kept. Like the children in Somalia. The people who entertain the audience are constantly fighting to have them be remembered. And no tomorrow- slowness with no tomorrow is what gives memory its sweetness. "and all that time he will be trying to stay as close as he can to the night as it melts inexorably in the light." The Chevalier and Madame T are the heroes in this story because they are striving to remember while everyone else strive to forget. Completely different attitudes aren't they? Maybe we should also strive to remember instead of forgetting- then our life would be more intricate instead of blurred and vague. For when we start running away- we never stop. We should go against the current of time, and cherish the memories- for that is all we have.
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Pub- Trans Linda Asher.
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