Kaname, disillusioned by the superficiality of modern life, finds himself increasingly drawn to the beauty and refinement of traditional Japanese aesthetics. This fascination extends to his father-in-law's mistress, a woman who embodies the grace and elegance of a bygone era. His fascination with the past represents a yearning for stability and authenticity in a world consumed by change.

While Kaname romanticizes the past, the novel also highlights the suffocating aspects of tradition. Misako, stifled by the expectations placed upon her as a woman in Japanese society, yearns for the individual freedom she associates with the West. Her desires, seen as scandalous, highlight the limitations imposed by societal norms.

Tanizaki masterfully depicts the breakdown of Kaname and Misako's marriage. Their inability to communicate, their differing desires, and the societal pressures they face culminate in a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the challenges of compatibility. Their story becomes a microcosm of the larger societal conflict between embracing new ways of life and clinging to the traditions of the past.