Parodic-intertextuality in Milan Kundera's ignorance

Abstract

Milan Kundera's novel Ignorance is a genuine presentation of the parodic intertextuality which has shown the glimpse of the historical and legendry figures in the form of common characters like Irenaand Josef. By using the epic of the great artist Homer he has made parody of the heroic figure Odyssey whom all the people of today remember. The central story of the novel revolves around the characters who are exiled from their country because of some particular reason like the communist horror. They want to return to their country but cannot because there is the situation which is not favorable for them. When they return their return is glorified by the writer comparing it to the return of the great heroic figure Odyssey. The memories of both characters of Odyssey and the Ignorance is presented simultaneously making it analogous. The novel Ignorance has shown the historical events which is the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968, political pursuit. Because of which people are expelled from the Communist Party. They are forced to beexiled from their own country. This type of incident has a great impact on the artistic manner of the writer. So,Kundera has adopted intertextuality to show all this. Therefore, the parody is used to show invasion of Soviet Communist in Czechoslovakia and ups and downs of the life of the people and invasion of Soviet Communist in Czechoslovakia .