Study Guide

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Part 4, Chapter 20

By Milan Kundera

Part 4, Chapter 20

Tereza is on her way home one morning with Karenin when she comes across the head of a crow sticking up out of the ground where it has been half-buried. The crow, still alive, crows weakly.
Tereza tries to dig up the crow. In doing so, she breaks a nail and her finger starts bleeding.
She sees some small boys nearby who are clearly responsible for burying the creature in the first place.
She finally extracts the bird, now weak, wraps it in her scarf, and takes it home.