Theme defines Meaning

Theme is the deeper meaning of the story, usually a topic with universal appeal.  You don’t need to preach or prove a point in stories, but they can be made more impactful and affecting by including and exploring a theme.  One of the easiest ways to think about theme, is to view it as an idea that recurs throughout the story – one which the storyteller keeps reminding the audience about because, at heart, it is what the story is fundamentally about.

Ideally, in treating a theme, writers aim to discuss issues without necessarily drawing conclusions.

Every Shakespeare play has an argument that is progressed by multiple characters of multiple viewpoints.  In this way he explores themes in all his plays.  The best stories will always be more than a story about events and characters – they will have a message (but they won’t preach). 

Tell the story with the audience in mind – recognise that stories are about the audience (experiences that are common to the audience as well as the character).

It is a writer’s job to transport the audience – with physical detail (setting), with powerful emotional content (internal character growth), with questions about life (theme).  Do all three and the audience will be immersed.

Identify the theme

Themes don’t need to be complicated (in fact simpler themes are often better because you want the audience to keep the theme in the back of their minds as the story unfolds).  What questions about life do the characters in the story have?  What questions do the events of the story raise about life?  What questions do the characters’ flaws, wounds, and needs point to?  The more personal to the lives of the characters that the theme is, the easier it is to explore it in any given work.

Brainstorm the theme

Think – what have people said about the topic?  What arguments have been made?

How can the characters represent these different views?

Look up quotes from philosophers and thinkers on the topic.

There are multiple sides to all arguments (many more than two).  Be sure to conduct research to identify as many sides as possible.

Express the theme

Your aim is to get the audience thinking (be provocative).

Reveal what the characters believe about the topic (at the beginning of your story).  Reveal how their thoughts change as the story progresses.  Demonstrate the conclusions they arrive at by its end.

Look at the plot – where does the character become aware of the issue?  What information does the character receive that causes them to think more deeply (where, when, and how)?

What happens to give the character a breakthrough or insight?

Characters should be designed to express different approaches (or arguments) regarding the themes.  In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth presents a ruthless view of masculinity that sees kindness as weakness.  MacDuff presents a view of masculinity that sees nothing weak about kindness, loyalty, etc.  Each argues for a different definition of and approach to masculinity.

Season your story by scattering references to your theme throughout its telling.  Brainstorm words that relate to your theme and use them to link your thoughts and the way you express your story’s events and characters back to the theme.

Here are a series of words (many of them paired-opposites) that relate to the passage of time; clocks, watches, ancient, modern, fast, slow, to build, to neglect, grow, decay, birth, death, young, old, loss, grief, hope, expectation, progress.

Let’s imagine a pair of characters with different viewpoints regarding the passage of time.  And have them conversing on a bus ride into town.

1. MELISSA: So much has changed.  The old neighbourhood looks ancient and life has become so busy.  No-one has any time left to care for the history that remains.
2. JANE: Oh, I don’t know.  I still remember when we’d have to walk twenty minutes to find a bus into town.  Now, it comes almost past our door.  Progress has been good to us.
3. MELISSA: But look at all we’ve lost.  The café’s torn down and the boutiques put up in their place, selling stuff no-one needs.  People used to meet on these streets and talk of an evening!  You wouldn’t want to be out after dark these days.
4. JANE: It’s not so bad.  The neighbours still look out for each other.  The world has changed but a lot has stayed the same.  (BEAT) Look, here comes our stop.
5. SOUND: BUS COMES TO A HALT – LET IT FINISH.
6. DRIVER: You getting off here ladies?  Just letting you know; the company’s changing the bus route and this stop will be gone in a couple o’ weeks.
7. MELISSA: Figures.  Ooh.  These old-bones aren’t what they used to be.
8. DRIVER: Come on, ladies.  Time’s passing and I got a schedule to keep.

Multiple themes

Stories are not limited in the number of themes they can explore.  Some authors include themes for each character, others explore themes in clusters, and others-still explore multiple unrelated themes.  In Macbeth, Shakespeare explored duty, freedom and determinism, and masculinity among others.

Helpful exercises

Write three scenes where the character is thinking about the theme or discussing the theme with someone else.

How does the theme come up?  Why is it bothering the character? 

Write a scene that introduces new information and changes the character’s viewpoint.

Write a scene that causes the character to draw a new conclusion about the issue and a radical change.

Copyright Philip Craig Robotham © 2022 

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