Themes: Are They Important in a Novel?

by Yvonne Blackwood

Themes are important building blocks of any novel. They are the central ideas that the writer explores in a prose narrative. The exploration takes place through elements like characters, settings, conflicts, word choice and literary devices.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a theme as: “a specific and distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern.” Themes add texture to a narrative, allowing the writer to explore certain concepts and emotions.

Whenever I review a novel I zero in on its main themes and this helps me to determine the underlying core of the story. By interspersing themes throughout the narrative, authors help readers to understand the soul of a story.

When I reviewed Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, I ascertained that one of the main themes was money. I gained a good insight into the social aspects of society during the 1700s, and it revealed the aristocrats’ obsession with money. How much a person makes per year or the value of their estate is discussed openly without reservation. The story also revealed that men are as much gold-diggers as women―Colonel Brandon’s brother married a woman he did not love because she had a large estate. The same can be said about Willoughby when he married Ms. Grey.

Another theme was women’s role in English society. Austen is known in the literary world for writing novels of manners, realist fiction, and drawing-room intrigue, and in Sense and Sensibility, she delved into the established manners of her time. In the late 1700s, women were thought of as strictly domestic―needlework, domestic management, and philanthropy. Women from the aristocracy were regarded as accomplished if they could draw, paint, and play the piano-forte. Social etiquette was most important and observed. One had to keep appointments and engagements, wear proper attire, and adhere to correct calling and conversational etiquette.

In my novel, The Ambition, several themes are at play, the primary ones are: threat, family, and love.

Threat

Threat sets the stage for the conflicts that drive the story. John Cippione, the protagonist, is threatened by a supplier, and if he does not address the threat, his company could go bankrupt and he could lose his home. In another instance, a secondary character is also threatened and he must decide whether to comply or not.

Family

The importance of family shines through in the story. In fact, the main conflict plays out between two families. An article on the website of The American Psychological Association states: “A family consists of individuals united by biology or by marital, adoptive, or other intimate ties. The family is the fundamental social unit of most human societies but its form and structure can vary widely, including the biological family, extended family, stepfamily, and even groups of friends known informally as “framilies.” In The Ambition, families are traditional and consist of parents, siblings, wives, children, and grandparents. The dedication and willingness to support family members through good times and bad times tugs at our heartstrings and makes us want to improve our family relationships.

Love

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary lists nine definitions for love. In this article, I will mention one of them. Love is “Attraction based on sexual desire: affection and tenderness felt by lovers.”

In my novel, The Ambition, two characters are attracted to each other, one of whom is a married woman. They are fully aware that pursuing the attraction could lead to disaster, and they fight the feeling but cannot resist the magnetism. When they finally begin to learn about each other, they discover that they have much in common. One thing they both love is Andrea Bocelli’s music. The theme of love continues throughout the story and readers get to share in some of the couple’s intimate moments.

Conclusion

Themes are vital in a novel, helping readers to connect with characters, sometimes even rooting for them. They are elements of communication, not of the story. They disclose what the story means, not for the characters in a story, but for readers who have an interpretative perspective on the story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yvonne Blackwood is the author of four adult non-fiction books: Into Africa, A Personal Journey, Will That Be Cash or Cuffs? Into Africa: The Return, and College Life of a Retired Senior. She published three children’s picture books: Nosey Charlie Comes to Town, Nosey Charlie Goes to Court, and Nosey Charlie Chokes on a Wiener. She is an award-winning short-story writer and has contributed stories to several anthologies, including Human Kindness, Canadian Voices, and Wordscape. Blackwood published articles in More of Our Canada, Adelaide, InTouch and Green Prints. She has written columns for newspapers, including the Toronto Star. She is a graduate of the University of Technology and graduated from York University with a BA majoring in English. She was a banker for many years and is a Fellow of The Institute of Canadian Bankers and an alumnus of the Humber College School of Writers. Her latest book is: The Ambition.

Learn more about Yvonne Blackwood and her work at: https://yvonneblackwood.com/

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THE AMBITION by Yvonne Blackwood

In the hustle and bustle of 1990s Toronto, John Cippione and his older brother Carmine take over their hard-working Italian immigrant father’s small heating and air-conditioning company. John is determined to propel the business into the big leagues and finally have the lavish lifestyle he craves, so the brothers join forces with a powerful land development company. 
But when an industry player sets out to bankrupt them, they risk tarnishing their father’s name and losing the legacy he entrusted to them. With everything crashing down around them, they must scramble to survive in a dangerous game of adultery, murder, and ruthless ambition.
“The Ambition is a riveting story of high-finance business deals, Italian family ties, an illicit romance, and murder. You won’t soon forget Connie, Lorenzo, and the other vivid characters who populate this unique tale.”—Marcia Trahan, author of Mercy