What Makes a Theme Important in Literature?

Finding a theme that everyone can relate to in literature can be tough. When we say a theme is "universally relevant," we mean it should connect with people no matter where they are from or what their background is. Here are some of the challenges we face and some ideas on how to overcome them:

Challenges in Finding Universal Themes

1. Cultural Differences:

   • Literature often reflects the unique experiences and beliefs of a specific culture. For example, what one culture thinks is important might not matter much in another. A theme about honor might be big in one place, while a theme about individuality could be more important in another.

2. Changing Times:

   • Themes that make sense today might not feel important in the future as society changes. For instance, ideas about gender roles have changed a lot over the years. A theme that resonated with readers long ago might feel old-fashioned now.

3. Personal Experience:

   • Every reader has their own life experiences that shape how they understand a story. This means that a theme like loss can hit different people in various ways. Someone who recently lost a loved one may feel more deeply about it than someone who hasn’t had that experience.

4. Oversimplifying Themes:

   • Sometimes, when trying to make a theme universal, we end up simplifying it too much. This can take away the story's richness and depth, making it less meaningful.

Ways to Reach Universality

Even with these challenges, there are ways to help themes connect with everyone:

1. Focus on Basic Human Feelings:

   • Themes that deal with strong emotions—like love, fear, greed, and betrayal—tend to speak to many people. Authors can make their themes more relatable by tapping into these feelings that everyone understands, no matter their background.

2. Create Relatable Characters:

   • Building characters who face common struggles or desires can help connect with a wider audience. For example, a character trying to figure out their identity can relate to many different cultures since identity is a theme many people think about.

3. Ask Big Questions:

   • Themes that make readers think about important questions—like "What is justice?" or "What does it mean to be happy?"—can encourage people from different backgrounds to reflect on their values and beliefs.

4. Accept Complexity:

   • Instead of trying to make things too simple, authors should embrace the complicated nature of themes. By showing different viewpoints and leaving some questions open-ended, they can connect with diverse experiences while still highlighting universal truths.

Conclusion

Creating themes that everyone can relate to may be challenging in literature, but it's possible with thoughtful effort. By focusing on basic human emotions and relatable characters, authors can craft themes that invite diverse interpretations and connections among readers, even if they aren’t perfect for everyone.