Lightness Intro

 

     Calvino describes lightness as that attribute of literature that removes the weight of the world from the reader. It is the ability of a text to speak of heavy matters in such a way that renders them them weightless. He uses the symbol of hopping over a gravestone to show how even in a regularly heavy situation one may attain a modicum of lightness. 
In contrast with lightness is heaviness, a quality that demands attention. Heaviness can be thought of as potent words that mire the reader and would put the world atop Atlas’ shoulder.

     Heaviness then could take a situation light in connotation and shroud it in the shadows. A contrasting analogy would be the news of a cat being rescued from a tree (an airy situation indeed) being recounted with such words as to evoke worry and consternation on the listener. 
In terms of perspective, then, lightness would clearly place things in perspective while refreshing and absolving doubts whereas heaviness would skew perspectives while suffocating and multiplying doubts.