What is Theme in a Story?

Once you’ve established your protagonist’s main traits, both positive and negative, and placed them in contrast with other characters through the technique known as character juxtaposition, you’ve done more than just build character. You’ve already moved towards designing your story’s theme.

Why?

Because a character’s flaw is more than a behavioral issue. It’s a belief system that limits them. It blinds them. It leads them to make the same mistakes over and over again. And that flaw becomes the main theme, or universal theme, of your story.

And that flaw is directly linked to their need. Not what they want, but what they must learn to live a more integrated, fulfilling, or awakened life.

That need becomes the thematic engine of your story.

Once you’ve identified the flaw and the need, ask a thematic question. This question will help you frame the central emotional conflict of your story. And remember, your job as a writer is to create emotions.

Here are some examples:

• If your character’s flaw is pride, the thematic question could be: When does pride start to hurt others?
• If your character’s flaw is fear of vulnerability, can you truly love if you never let yourself be seen or heard?
• If their flaw is the belief that power equals worth, what happens when to others’ happiness when power gets out of control?

Your story will then answer this question, not through dialogue or explanation. Instead, it’ll be through character growth or decline. This happens scene by scene, sequence by sequence. It shows the reader the answer to the question.

That journey toward truth (or away from it) is what reveals your stated theme.

So remember, to begin exploring your story’s theme, design the character’s flaw, which hinges on what your character needs.

Based on that character’s need, ask a question about it. Let that question guide you scene by scene, sequence by sequence, throughout the story.

Then let your story answer the question.

The result? You’ve explored a theme that everyone can relate to.

Happy Writing!

~ M.C. Convery