# Obsession and Desire in Short Fiction

> Theme guide for Short Fiction by Tanizaki Jun’ichirō.

Characters are driven by consuming desires—Seikichi's years-long quest for the perfect female subject to tattoo, and Shinsuké's forbidden love for Tsuya—leading to moral conflict and destructive outcomes.

## Where it surfaces

- [Tattooing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_52_se/chapters/tattooing): Seikichi's long-cherished desire to find a perfect girl and puncture his soul into her flesh drives the narrative, highlighting his obsessive nature.
- [A Springtime Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_52_se/chapters/a-springtime-case): Seiji's obsessive pursuit of Tsuya, Tsuya's calculated manipulation, and Shinsuké's jealous rage all stem from unchecked desire.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_52_se/themes/obsession_and_desire
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_52_se/themes