Part 2, Chapters 1-6 Summary

Kundera relates the origins of the characters of Tomas and Tereza. "Tomas was born of the saying 'Einmal ist keinmal,"' what happens once might as well not have happened at all. "Tereza was born of the rumbling of a stomach." He describes how Tereza could not stop her stomach from rumbling when she got to Tomas's flat the first time, and was mortified until Tomas comforted her. Kundera relates this incident to the "irreconcilable duality of body and soul." Kundera discusses how scientific progress has explained bodily functions. However, when it comes to love, there is no comfort or peace of mind, when your stomach is growling in front of your lover.

Kundera begins to uncover Tereza's background. Tereza looks in the mirror and tries to see her soul. She does not look at her body in a...