The Book of Laughter and Forgetting Theme of Sex

Heads up, folks: there is a ton of sex in The Book of Laughter and Forgetting.

If you're feeling a little disturbed by the sexual relationships in this book, you're not alone: there really are no unproblematic sexual encounters to be found here. Even Tamina's unrelenting attachment to her husband—the most harmless of all sex trouble in this work—leads to some pretty bizarre experiences later on.

The most difficult encounters here have less to do with sex than with violence. It comes as no surprise that characters like Karel would objectify women's bodies to use in fantasy play, but it's pretty shocking to read of Kundera's urge to rape a vulnerable female colleague. Or to hear Jan describing male eroticism as forever linked to rape fantasies—that women, according to him, apparently like.

But to give Kundera the benefit of the doubt, we imagine that he's exploring the theme of human sexuality by digging into its darkest depths. It's another variation on a theme—one that's meant to drag us out of our comfort zones.

1. In what ways do male and female characters view sexuality differently in this novel? Are there points of agreement?
2. In what ways are Kundera's male characters consistent in their views about sex? Do Jan, Mirek, the student, and Karel have a similar outlook?
3. Why does Tamina allow the children to touch her body? What does she get out of that experience?
4. How do Marketa and Eva view their relationship to each other? How about their relationship with Karel?

Female sexuality is wholly misunderstood in Kundera's novel. His version of male sexuality isn't so easy to understand, either.

There is an "idyllic" version of sexuality as well as of political ideology in Kundera's novel.