# Identity and Self-Deception in Short Fiction

> Theme guide for Short Fiction by Hjalmar Söderberg.

Characters often deceive themselves about their circumstances, as Dr. Henck in 'The Fur Coat' believes a fur coat will restore his wife's love, and Bloom dreams of a new life despite his past, while the tattooed anchor in 'The Blue Anchor' symbolizes a fixed but fading identity.

## Where it surfaces

- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/chapters/ii): The narrator's tattoo, a mark of his past as a ship's boy, becomes a focal point of identity and vulnerability, while he deceives himself about the uniqueness of their kiss.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/chapters/iii): Richard's reluctance to wear the decoration and his reflection on the anchor's fading suggest a tension between his true self and the social identity imposed on him.
- [The Dream of Eternity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/chapters/the-dream-of-eternity): The narrator's youthful belief in an immortal soul allows him to live a dissipated life without consequence, revealing a form of self-deception.
- [Communion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/chapters/communion): The narrator, believing himself worldly, attempts to assert his maturity but is reduced to a stammering child when confronted by the clergyman, revealing his fragile self-image.
- [The Clown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/chapters/the-clown): The boy's transformation into a clown on stage suggests a performance of identity, where his true self is hidden behind a mask of comedy, echoing the theme of self-deception.
- [Signy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/chapters/signy): The narrator's creation of Signy as an imaginary companion and his later renaming her to Ida illustrate the fluidity of identity and the self-deception involved in hiding his inner world from adults.
- [A Masterless Dog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/chapters/a-masterless-dog): The dog forgets he ever had a master, adopting a new identity as a masterless dog, only to be confronted by a haunting memory that challenges his self-perception.
- [The Burning City](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/chapters/the-burning-city): The boy cannot accept that he did not exist when the city burned, insisting 'I was somewhere,' revealing a nascent struggle with the concept of self and non-existence.
- [Archimedes' Point](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/chapters/archimedes-point): The narrator's attempt to follow the rowdy's advice while hiding his compliance reveals a struggle with pride and self-awareness.
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/chapters/ii): The narrator's identity is tied to his clothing and accessories; without them, he becomes a stranger to his own animals, highlighting how identity can be externally constructed.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/themes/identity_and_self_deception
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/themes