How do you express Theme in your writing?

Astute question, even though it wasn’t explicitly asked, it serves as a narrative tool to begin our lesson. Now, Neophyte, Timmy, pay attention—this is important. I know, I always emphasize importance, but there’s a good reason. I aim to give you the core of everything without any unnecessary fanfare or cosmetic distractions. Timmy, are you seriously drawing a monkey with a banana? Never mind. Back to the theme.

I’m posing this question because while it’s easy to discuss the different components of the craft, assembling them into a cohesive whole can be quite tricky. So, how do we go about it?

Let’s start with a brief recap for those who are lost, or perhaps stumbled in through the wrong door—Timmy, come back here, I didn´t mean for you to leave. In the realm of literature, themes serve as the backbone of narratives, providing depth and significance to stories. While plots drive the action forward, themes offer a lens through which readers interpret the underlying messages, ideas, and reflections the author wishes to convey. The ability to express themes effectively is a hallmark of skilled storytelling, capable of captivating and enlightening audiences. Essentially, while the plot is what happens on the outside, themes are what give inner conflict to your characters, tying everything together. Timmy, where did you get that twine? No, wait, stop tying the furniture together… Anyway.

To understand themes, the basic rule of thumb is that they encapsulate the central concepts, motifs, or ideas explored throughout a work. Unlike plot, which outlines the sequence of events, themes delve into the broader implications, moral dilemmas, and philosophical inquiries embedded within the narrative. From love and loss to justice and redemption, themes resonate with readers on a profound level, offering insights into the complexities of human existence.

So, expressing them through your work requires creativity. Yes, that’s quite the punchline, Neophyte. Anyway, sarcasm aside, it truly demands creativity because the line between an engaging story and a boring slog is very fine and hard to see sometimes. Expressing themes in writing involves a delicate balance of subtlety, nuance, and creativity, chiefly through your characters.

Characters are an entire library of elements that we will delve into another time, for now. They are your chief vehicles. Timmy, where did you get those toy cars? I didn’t… Just be quiet in the corner with… As I was saying, characters are your main vehicle to move the plot forward, but they are also your main vehicle to express the theme or themes. In a story about love, loss, and grief, your cast will express aspects of those three thematic threads. No one character will encapsulate the full gamut of the theme, and not one character will perfectly embody one of the themes, unless of course he story truly requires it. Instead, each will express an aspect of the themes, perhaps negative or positive. But an aspect nonetheless. The way each aspect is expressed informs and colors how the characters interact with the world and move the plot forward. This is the tricky part. Yes, it depends on how many actually complex characters you have, but even the flattest of characters can be pivotal to a plot. It takes a lot of trial and error to organically weave thematic elements into your stories, always through the lens of the characters and their own beliefs, conflicts, and arcs of growth or fall. Similarly, setting and atmosphere play a pivotal role in expressing themes. Through vivid descriptions and symbolic imagery, writers can imbue settings with thematic significance, creating atmospheres that evoke specific emotions or ideas.

Timmy, I can’t believe you’re actually raising your hand! Yes, this is where the “blue curtains represent sadness” joke comes from. Thank you, Timmy. What do you mean you’ve never heard of it, Neophyte? Well, you learn something new every day. But back to the topic. Whether it’s the desolation of a post-apocalyptic landscape or the opulence of a decadent society, settings can reinforce and amplify the thematic undertones of a narrative.

I cannot stress this enough… I don’t know where you got the sedatives… from your nan’s medicine cabinet?… oh dear, I’ll have to talk with her later… Again. Back to the topic. I cannot stress this enough; while visual storytelling is more relevant in visual mediums, do not scoff at a good description. Especially if the narrator is close to a limited form, such as in first-person or tight third-person point of view. The smells, what a character hears, what they think of their surroundings—all these contribute to the atmosphere and theme of the story. I know that description can veer very close to the “tell without showing” territory, but if implemented with care and attention to detail, it can enhance your writing.

Why am I using the condition “especially if the narrator is limited form”? Good catch, Neophyte… No, Timmy, I don’t want to play with the roach you found; release it at once… Back to your question, Neophyte. I’m using that precondition because the more limited the narrator, the closer you are to the character’s inner world. The closer you are to them, the more personal it feels, and the more subjective the filter through which the reader sees the world has to be. There is great power in that.

Moreover, plot structure serves as a canvas for expressing themes. You can strategically integrate plot events that mirror, challenge, or subvert the central themes of your work. Foreshadowing, yes with a capital F, is the king here, the undisputed ruler. With care, dedication, and attention to detail, you can drop tantalizing breadcrumbs throughout the story—patterns of behavior, hints here and there, things that are relevant not just to the plot but to the theme. Then, putting it all together in a marvelous moment of illumination. Few things are more satisfying as a reader than having those moments and then thinking back and realizing, “Oh, the author was telling me all along.”

Additionally, language and imagery play a crucial role in expressing themes. Metaphors, similes, and other forms of figurative language can evoke powerful emotions and associations, enriching the thematic tapestry of a narrative. These linguistic tools allow us to paint vivid pictures and evoke complex emotions, deepening the reader’s engagement with the underlying themes of the story.

So, some examples to make it clear enough? To illustrate these techniques in action, let’s explore examples from both classic and contemporary literature. In Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” themes of racial injustice, moral courage, and empathy are expressed through the character of Atticus Finch and the evocative setting of 1930s Alabama. Similarly, George Orwell’s “1984” employs dystopian imagery and political allegory to explore themes of totalitarianism, surveillance, and individual freedom.

In contemporary works like Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner,” themes of guilt, redemption, and the complexities of friendship are intricately woven into the narrative through the character of Amir and the backdrop of war-torn Afghanistan. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” delves into themes of the American Dream, moral decay, and the illusion of wealth, depicted through the tragic figure of Jay Gatsby and the glittering excesses of the Jazz Age.

I know I’m expressing it as if it were easy, I know that I’m expressing it as if it were simple, but it isn’t. It takes practice, it takes trial and error. You must strike a delicate balance between subtlety and heavy-handedness, avoiding didacticism and allowing themes to emerge organically from the narrative. Balancing multiple themes can also be daunting, requiring careful orchestration and thematic coherence throughout the story. Moreover, you must navigate the terrain of clichés and stereotypes, striving for originality and authenticity in thematic exploration. Though as I always say, clichés exist for a reason, and if you wish to write the literary equivalent of cheap chips… I won’t stop you, but back to… Timmy, where did you get that bag of chips? what are you doing eating in the classroom? Never mind, we’re about to finish. From a writer’s perspective, expressing themes in writing is both a creative endeavor and a profound exploration of the human experience. No two writers are alike in this department, and if you try to be, you will fail, miserably so. Much like history, things may rhyme but are never alike. Revision and editing are essential stages in refining thematic clarity (yes, they are on the docket, but they are so far down the line that not even I know when we will see them), ensuring that the underlying messages are conveyed with precision and impact. Seeking feedback from peers, mentors, and beta readers can provide valuable insights and perspectives, enriching the thematic depth and resonance of a work.

In conclusion, before Timmy gets up to more of his shenanigans; expressing themes in writing is a multifaceted art form that requires skill, insight, and creativity. By employing techniques such as character development, setting and atmosphere, plot structure, and language and imagery, writers can craft narratives that resonate with readers on a profound level. And before we go, always remember, there is always a second time, a new try, never stop doing. Especially because you are never going to be satisfied with… Timmy, another bag of chips? I’ve had enough, leave now, but I am confiscating the chips for… reasons.