vertigo is something other than the fear of falling. It is the voice of emptiness below us which tempts and lures us, it is the desire to fall, against which, terrified, we defend ourselves.
Vertigo is characterized not just by a fear of losing one's footing but also by a deeper psychological phenomenon. It represents an alluring call from the abyss, a voice that beckons individuals towards the emptiness beneath them. This feeling can create a complex mix of attraction and fear, as it tempts people to confront the void while simultaneously urging them to resist that pull.
This duality reveals a profound human experience: the struggle between the temptation to embrace risk and the instinct to protect oneself from potential harm. Kundera’s exploration highlights how this tension shapes our understanding of existence, serving as a metaphor for the larger questions of freedom and commitment in life.