Themes: The Writer’s Perspective On Our Crappy Society

Themes: The Writer’s Perspective On Our Crappy Society

There is a reason why millions of books are sold every day. A reason why thousands of stories are read, and thousands of paintings are scrutinized. There is something enticing about renowned works of art that captures an audience and lingers in their minds and thoughts, almost as if putting them under a spell. People, such as yourself, enjoy works of art because they are able to connect to it, and one of the main reasons why a person can connect to a work of art is because of it’s theme. Themes are the central idea, or ideas, that are explored in any piece of work of art. The theme is not the topic, but is the underlying meaning of the work. “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, “The Thing Around Your Neck” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan are a few of the many famous stories. Although often used interchangeably, the themes and morals of a story are different. Morals are the messages that are taught by the story. They are intended by the author to teach his/her audience a valuable life lesson. Similar to these three stories, all stories have themes, but they do not necessarily have morals.

The theme of “The Story of an Hour” is that due to repression from the husband on the wife, for the wife, marriage results in the loss of freedom. Although Mrs. Mallard loves her husband, she feels free when she learns about his death. “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence...” (Chopin 14). The story does not include any sign of abuse from Mr. Mallard on Mrs. Mallard, and it is suggested that he takes care of her well.

“She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome” (Chopin 14).”

Although he takes care of her, Mrs. Mallard feels confined in her marriage, thus she expresses her relief after his death. Although he may not physically abuse her, he may unknowingly mentally or emotionally abuse her. This is due to the social norms that society has constructed. It is typical for the husband to play the dominant role in a marriage. This concept of repression is frequently presented throughout the story. Similar to “The Story of an Hour,” “The Thing Around Your Neck” also centers on the feeling of being constrained.

The theme of “The Thing Around Your Neck” is that the experience of an immigrant is often lonely and stifling. All immigrants have trouble coping with trying to fit in while still trying to remain their former self. Adichie symbolizes the lonely feeling as “something would wrap itself around your neck, something that very nearly choked you before you fell asleep” (Adichie 88). Akunna, in a foreign land without her family, feels like an alien. She feels like a peculiar object out of place when Americans stare at her, especially when they ask questions and make assumptions about her. “They asked where you learned to speak English and if you had real houses back in Africa and if you’d seen a car before you came to America. They gawped at your hair. Does it stand up or fall down when you take out the braids? They wanted to know” (Adichie 85). When Akunna finally finds someone she can open up to, the lonely and isolated feeling she feels begins to set loose. “The thing that wrapped itself around your neck, that nearly choked you before you fell asleep, started to loosen, to let go” (Adichie 92). “Two Kinds,” another notable story, also has an appealing theme one can relate to.

The theme of “Two Kinds” is that without a mother’s approval, there is a strain in the child-mother relationship. The continuous disappointment presented by a mother would eventually lead to the self-doubt and self-disappointment of a child. When Ni Kan fails to show any sign of being a child prodigy, her Mother’s disappointment is evident. Failing to meet her Mother’s high expectations and standards, Ni Kan describes it as, “and after seeing, once again, my mother’s disappointed face, something inside me began to die” (Tan 212). She feels ashamed and incompetent, especially with the comparison of her chess-prodigy peer, the daughter of her Mother’s friend. Ni Kan also feels that her Mother is not accepting her for who she is, which leads to the strain in their relationship. “But my mother’s expression was what devastated me: a quiet, blank look that said she had lost everything” (Tan 217). After the failed talent show, she feels she is dishonoring her Mother. This makes for an engaging theme because it is relatable and understandable.

A theme is one of the most important elements of a story or any work of art. It allows the audience to connect and relate with the characters and their situations. Through the theme, authors and artists can illustrate their take on society. They can create their version of essentially anything and everything. Not every story has a moral one can learn from, but every story has a theme one can relate to. That is one of the reasons why works of art are appreciated.