Theme

=**Theme**=

The central concept, or message, in a literary work. It is rarely stated directly and must be inferred by readers. Theme is expressed through recurrent images, actions, characters, and symbols. Contrary to the subject, or topic described in a work, theme is a comment, observation, or insight //about// the subject. Paraphrased from: NTC's dictionary of literary terms by Kathleen Morner and Ralph Rausch, page 223 (found in classroom!)

The themes in __The Awakening__ are independence and sovereignty.

 * Edna strives for independence from her role in society as an ideal mother/wife portrayed by Adele Ratignolle
 * Mademoiselle Reisz asserts her independence through living alone her pursuit of the art of music

The theme in __Wide Sargasso Sea__ by Jean Rhys is the racial differences that exist between the island natives and the English.
===One theme in __The Chronicle of a Death Foretold__ by Gabriel Garcia-Marquez is honor.=== //e.g.// “We killed him openly, but we’re innocent. Before God and men, it was a matter of honor.” [56]
 * There is disagreement between Antoinette's Creole family and the native Jamaicans, which is expressed with the burning of their house by the Jamaicans in the beginning of the novel
 * Rochester doesn't understand why Antoinette hugs and kisses Christophine, representing a cultural miscommunication
 * Honor is regarded as highly important in the culture of the town in which the narrative takes place.
 * All the characters in the book are influenced by the construction of honor.
 * The story is based around the ideal of honor and defending it. Therefore, it is one of the themes of the story.

One theme in __The Stranger__ by Albert Camus is the meaningless of life.
//e.g.// “I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate." [123]
 * Camus tries to incorporate the theme of the meaningless of life through his protagonist Meursault. [[image:http://alangullette.com/lit/absurd/camus.jpg align="right"]]
 * Meursault's indifference and apathy towards situations portray the theme of the meaningless of life.
 * Meursault comes to the realization after knowing he will be executed that death is inevitable. That no matter when he dies, whether during the execution or naturally, he will die in the end. In this realization, the theme of the novel reveals itself even more.