Or take an instance from the student's childhood: His parents made him take violin lessons. He was not very gifted and his teacher would interrupt him to criticize his mistakes in a cold, unbearable voice. He felt humiliated, and he wanted to cry. But instead of trying to play in tune and not make mistakes, he would deliberately play wrong notes, the teacher's voice would become still more unbearable and harsh, and he himself would sink deeper and deeper into his litost.What then is litost?Litost is a state of torment created by the sudden sight of one's own misery.
The passage reflects on a student's experience with violin lessons that were far from enjoyable. Despite his lack of talent, his parents forced him to practice, leading to feelings of humiliation when faced with a harsh teacher. This criticism pushed him into a downward spiral, where he began to intentionally play wrong notes, exacerbating his teacher's frustration and deepening his own feelings of despair.
This situation illustrates the concept of litost, which is described as a painful awareness of one's own suffering. It captures the emotional turmoil that arises when one suddenly recognizes their misery, creating a cycle of self-sabotage and distress. Through this lens, Kundera explores the complex relationship between personal failure and the critical judgments of others.
