Carnal Pleasure
The film is based around Nagiko's love of her father who would write upon her face every year for her birthday words of good fortune. This began her obsession with both literature and calligraphy, which turned into a desire to be carnally satisfied in combination with the writing upon her body. The theme leads to her need for revenge upon The Publisher for blackmailing her Father by demanding sexual favors for publishing.
Romeo & Juliet and Real Life
Jerome and Nagiko become lovers after he convinces her to write upon his body. Their romance grows until Jerome is caught by Nagiko sleeping with The Publisher, an affair he's been carrying on for some time. In an attempt to gain back Nagiko, who will not see him, he attempts suicide hoping that Nagiko will find him before any real damage is done and they will reunite. But, Jerome takes too many pills and kills himself. This ends his desire to recreate Romeo & Juliet as a way to make a romantic gesture which ends in reality with tragedy.
Revenge
Nagiko's main goal in the film is to get back at The Publisher who blackmailed her father to publish his work in exchange for sexual favors, corrupted her husband and eventually ruined her and Jerome's relationship as he had an affair with him too while the pair were together. Her revenge leads to the reality of what The Publisher has done and he ultimately ends his life. The theme reveals how only pain comes from corruption, blackmail and trading power for carnal desires. In the end, it always leads to death either literally or of one's soul.
