In Milan Kundera's "Immortality," the contrasting approaches of Agnes and Laura highlight different perspectives on self-identity. Agnes focuses on stripping away external influences and borrowed attributes, aiming to uncover her true essence. This process, though risky, allows her to confront her fundamental nature, even as it threatens to leave her with an emptiness if taken too far.

On the other hand, Laura seeks to enhance her identity by accumulating various attributes that make her more distinct and tangible. This strategy, while effective in creating a more visible self, carries the danger of obscuring her essential identity beneath the weight of these added characteristics. Both characters illustrate the delicate balance between self-definition and the external influences that shape who we are.