Life Is Elsewhere

What is the author's style in Life Is Elsewhere by Milan Kundera?

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The point of view is that of an all-seeing observer, who at times is close to the action, and at times is quite distant. The narrator, or observer, makes clear that his intention is to look at the life of a lyrical poet, Jaromil. Jaromil, in turn is compared to some of the well-known young poets of the past, such as Rimbaud in France and Lermontov. Towards the end of the book, the narrator makes clear that the book is told from a point in time after the death of Jaromil. Therefore, Jaromil's childhood is gone over quite quickly, while his relationship with the redheaded girl is followed in-depth until the relationship reaches its disastrous conclusion.

It is clear from the description of the unjust imprisonment of people such as the redheaded girl and her brother Jan, that the author highlights the injustices of the Communist government of Czechoslovakia. This is doubly absurd since neither the redheaded girl nor her brother commit any overt act, it is merely alleged that they are about to do something wrong. Still, the author also wants to show the revolutionary enthusiasm there is in the country, as typified by the attitude of Jaromil, to the coming to power of the Communist regime.

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