His connection to his life was that of a sculptor to his statue or a novelist to his novel. It is an inviolable right of a novelist to rework his novel. If the opening does not please him, he can rewrite or delete it. But Zdena's existence denied Mirek that author's prerogative. Zdena insisted on remaining on the opening pages of the novel and did not let herself be crossed out.
In Milan Kundera's "The Book of Laughter and Forgetting," the connection between a character and their life is likened to a sculptor's relationship with a statue, or a novelist's with their work. This metaphor highlights the creative process, where a novelist has the freedom to edit and refine their narrative, allowing for the possibility of change and growth within the story.
However, Zdena's role complicates this creative freedom for Mirek. Unlike a character that can be altered or removed, Zdena persistently remains at the forefront of Mirek's life, symbolizing an unchangeable aspect of his existence. Her insistence on her place mirrors a narrative that cannot be rewritten, posing a challenge to Mirek's autonomy and his desire to reshape his own story.
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