In "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," Milan Kundera reflects on the legend of Plato's "banquet," where it is said that humans were originally dual-sex beings. According to the myth, these beings were split in half by the gods, resulting in individuals wandering the world and feeling incomplete. This division leads to a longing for unity, as each person seeks their other half to become whole again.

The theme of love emerges as a central desire in human experience, characterized by the quest to reconnect with what has been lost. Kundera explores how this search for completeness shapes relationships and influences our understanding of existence, suggesting that love is fundamentally rooted in the pursuit of our missing counterpart.