Beauty by Mistake

When Sabina and Franz venture to New York, they discuss the differences between European beauty and New York’s “unintentional beauty.” Sabina uses “beauty by mistake” as the basis for her art; New York is “something different, something mysterious or abstract” like the red trickle of paint that becomes her “Behind the Scenes” painting. Franz wonderfully discerns and appreciates “the alien quality of New York’s beauty” but it is unfamiliar to him. He in turn yearns for Europe. While their discussion of two different kinds of beauty reveals something about the two characters themselves, I have found myself thinking of Tereza and Tomas as well. Throughout the novel, Tomas is in pursuit of the “one-millionth part” that differentiates other women from their gender. In a way, the chase has a “premeditated quality to it” like European beauty and Tomas has made it his “long-range plan” to obtain it. Beauty of the “one-millionth part” however does not apply to Tereza. Similar to New York’s fortuitous beauty, Tereza is unintentional, which reinforces the play between fate and chance. Tereza’s soul emerged from the ugly (only ugly to Tereza, who condemns the human body) rumbling of her stomach for Tomas to behold, and after “six fortuities” Tomas loved her. Whether Kundera intended this or not, the discussion between Sabina and Franz about Europe and New York, in terms of beauty, reflects Tomas’ struggle between loving Tereza and wanting to pursue the “one-millionth part.” That is not to say Europe is better and more appealing than New York or vice versa but that they are both different. Such is Tereza’s beauty and the women Tomas beds. But Tereza’s grief is not beautiful. Tomas’ infidelity is not beautiful. Because Tomas lives in lightness, he refuses to refrain from acting on his desires for Tereza’s emotional stability and because of Tereza’s heaviness, she cannot accept his erotic adventures. The complex “lightness/heavy opposition” throughout the novel informs the beautiful, ugly and political aspects of reality and who people are at their core.