Kundera's use of Lacan as the basis for character identity

Postmodernist novelist Milan Kundera writes predominantly around the theme of identity. He deliberately rejects adhering to any specific philosophy or psychoanalytic theory, and yet his concept of identity and its play in the life of his characters possesses a startling resemblance to Lacan's own theories. By using Kundera's own commentary and narrative and comparing them with Lacan's psychoanalytic theories, this thesis attempts to demonstrate their similarity. In the process, many of Kundera's seemingly disparate insights are shown to be related at a more foundational (Lacanian) level. Four of Kundera's works are used: The Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Art of the Novel, Immortality, and Testaments Betrayed. Likewise, sources used for Lacan include his Écrits, his Seminars, and Ragland-Sullivan's Jacques Lacan and the Philosophy of Psychoanalysis .