Characterization and conflict are two key scenarios that present themselves in most all literary works. Characterization is a struggle between two opposing forces. Conflict, on the other hand, will always involve the protagonist, and it can either be internal or external. Internal conflict, which is the conflict between person and self, is one that happens within the mind of the protagonist. Instances of internal conflict are whereby a person struggles between right or wrong, or where one has to make a huge decision. External conflicts involves the conflict between a person and other external forms: person vs. person, person vs. nature, person vs. society, and person vs. technology.
In “The Tattooer” by Tanizaki Jun’ichiro, we see several instances of conflict and characterization. It is a story about a young and talented tattooer called Seikichi. Seikichi is mostly famous because of the physical charm and unrivaled boldness expressed in his art. However, this tattooer drew immeasurable pleasure in …show more content…
In “The Tattooer,” Seikichi experiences a person-to-nature sort of conflict when he starts getting attracted to his female client. In the Japanese culture, men were expected to be the stronger beings and to avoid any temptation or eroticism that comes from the members of the opposite sex. However, Seikichi is unable to uphold this, and he ends up inscribing a spider, which is a symbol of evil on the flesh of the beautiful, young women. This action immediately converted the beauty of this woman into a compelling, demonic spirit to which Seikichi gives in, prostrating himself before the woman. Masochism, the confusing mingling of a lurking evil and female beauty, and the artist’s erotic yearnings are the key elements that resulted in the conflicts between self and nature, and the artist ends up surrendering to the
In “The Tattooer” by Tanizaki Jun’ichiro, we see several instances of conflict and characterization. It is a story about a young and talented tattooer called Seikichi. Seikichi is mostly famous because of the physical charm and unrivaled boldness expressed in his art. However, this tattooer drew immeasurable pleasure in …show more content…
In “The Tattooer,” Seikichi experiences a person-to-nature sort of conflict when he starts getting attracted to his female client. In the Japanese culture, men were expected to be the stronger beings and to avoid any temptation or eroticism that comes from the members of the opposite sex. However, Seikichi is unable to uphold this, and he ends up inscribing a spider, which is a symbol of evil on the flesh of the beautiful, young women. This action immediately converted the beauty of this woman into a compelling, demonic spirit to which Seikichi gives in, prostrating himself before the woman. Masochism, the confusing mingling of a lurking evil and female beauty, and the artist’s erotic yearnings are the key elements that resulted in the conflicts between self and nature, and the artist ends up surrendering to the