The quote from Milan Kundera's "Farewell Waltz" explores the symbolic meanings associated with hair color, contrasting light and dark hair. Dark hair is linked to qualities such as masculinity, courage, and entrepreneurship, suggesting a strong and active character. In contrast, light hair is associated with femininity, depicting traits like tenderness and passivity. This distinction presents a cultural narrative where hair color influences perceptions of identity and societal roles.
Kundera emphasizes society's preference for blonde women, positioning them as ideal figures such as princesses. This idea suggests that women may resort to dyeing their hair blonde to align with societal standards of femininity. The quote reflects on how personal appearance can shape gender dynamics, showing a clear bias towards light-haired women while dismissing dark hair as less feminine.