Theme: A Question of Morality

Jack Bergantino

5 November 2015

Theme: A Question of Morality

“The theme of a book is the message it sends to the reader. Basically, what life lesson did the book teach you?”, claims Empire.State.of.Mind. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. Let me tell you why:

The theme must be understood as an idea, not a message (!), that the author of a story emphasizes, and it varies dramatically between different pieces. For instance, “Guests of the Nation” by Frank O’Connor, “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” by Sherman Alexie, and “A&P” by John Updike have three separate concerns. The theme of a narrative is not a moral because themes can be in sync or against the types of accepted values that you were taught as a youngster.

“Guests of the Nation” by O’Connor doesn’t have a moral lesson because it explores how duty comes before loyalty to friends. The main character of the story, Bonaparte, accepts his role in murdering two men, which over the course of the story, he has grown to like. “‘Isn’t it [the order to kill Hawkins] true, Bonaparte?’ ‘It is,’ I said, and Hawkins stopped. ‘Ah, for Christ’s sake, chum!’.‘I mean it, chum.’ I said” (O’Connor) Although reluctantly, Bonaparte participates in murdering his two companions. The overall message of “Guests of the Nation” is socially unacceptable. Murder is one of the no-nos that we learn from a young age and the example found in this story is not an exception. While obedience towards authority is expected of you,  following orders that are against what is widely-agreed as acceptable, is a sinful act. The prevailing idea of the short story remains that one’s loyalty to authority is more important than one’s loyalty to friends. The theme of “Guests of the Nation” is not a moral message because it is against common value.  

While a theme is not a lesson, it can be similar to accepted ideals in society, such as the theme of the short story, “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” by Alexie. The main character, Jackson, attempts to earn enough money to regain his grandmother’s regalia and ultimately fails. Yet, the pawnshop owner, who possesses the item, returns it to Jackson despite his inability to pay for it. “‘Take it,’ he [the pawnshop owner] said, and held it out to me. ‘I don’t have the money.’ ‘I don’t want your money’. But I wanted to win it.’ ‘You did win it’” (Alexie). Although Jackson wasn’t able purchase the regalia, the pawnshop owner rewarded him with it. So, the theme of the narrative is one’s own hard work will be repaid. Similarly, this is an accepted and commonly taught ideal: diligence will be rewarded. Although “theme” should never be replaced with “moral”, in “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” the underlying idea presented in the story is similar to culturally accepted values.

Though able to act as either ethical or unethical, the theme of a story is beyond the confines of morals, like in “A&P” by Updike. The main character, Sammy, watches an attractive girl shop at the store where he works and upon her exit, Sammy quickly quits his job and rushes outside to find that the girl has already left. “I could see Lengel [the manager] in my place in the slot, checking the sheep through. His face was dark gray and his back stiff” (Updike). The central theme of the story revolves around Sammy’s freedom from authority and newfound individuality. Sammy becomes his own, distinct character upon his exit. “I fold the apron ‘Sammy’ is stitched in red on the pocket, and put it on the counter, and drop the bow tie on top of it. The bow tie is theirs, if you’ve ever wondered” (Updike). Updike uses powerful symbolism to show the idea that Sammy is now his own individual, easily separated from the employees working in the store. This is not a lesson, however. “A&P” does not explicitly share the consequences of Sammy’s decision, only that he has quit his job. Themes should neither be described as moral messages nor unethical ideas as exemplified in  “A&P” by John Updike.

Theme is defined as a thought that is prevalent in a narrative. “Guests of the Nation” by Frank O’Connor, “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” by Sherman Alexie, and “A&P” by John Updike share how themes vary greatly between different pieces.  They can be underlying messages that are alike to the lessons that teachers share with their students or parents with their children. However, theme should not be measured in terms of ethics, yet, instead, by its importance to the story. But, you thought: “the theme of a book is the message it sends to the reader. Basically, what life lesson did the book teach you?” Do you still believe that? Yeah, that’s what I thought.