The multiplicity of desire ruptures the object permanency of the other.

And the admittance of such ruptures leads to love.

A movement from jealousy to communion.

--

This is honestly the only cultural text I've read, heard or watched that has the (male) protagonist grapple with their feelings of jealousy (mostly unfounded, but nevertheless felt), slowly working through these feelings, towards a productive and compassionate end. Like, I just did not expect an early 20th century decadent text to provide a positive role model for men who get a big wham of the dumbo paranoia over their partner's (potential) infidelity. Yeah, cishet purity politics is lame (how dare u desire anything other than me!), but loyalty and honesty are cool. I like how the husband and wife end up closer through their expressions of desiring otherwise.

Also, the Kafka thing of making everyone, post-conspiracy, appear super sexy to the protagonist is hilarious, especially with the conspiracy, in this case, being of sexual desire. There's something extremely funny about a doctor moving from scene to scene, suspicious of his wife's desires, whilst projecting such desires onto all the women around him, who then appear to desire he, the doctor, himself. Everywhere a mirror of paranoia cloaked in seduction.