<P> In contemporary literary studies, a theme is the central topic a text treats . Themes can be divided into two categories: a work's thematic concept is what readers "think the work is about" and its thematic statement being "what the work says about the subject". </P> <P> The most common contemporary understanding of theme is an idea or point that is central to a story, which can often be summed in a single word (e.g. love, death, betrayal). Typical examples of themes of this type are conflict between the individual and society; coming of age; humans in conflict with technology; nostalgia; and the dangers of unchecked ambition . A theme may be exemplified by the actions, utterances, or thoughts of a character in a novel . An example of this would be the thematic idea of loneliness in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, wherein many of the characters seem to be lonely . It may differ from the thesis--the text's or author's implied worldview . </P> <P> A story may have several themes . Themes often explore historically common or cross-culturally recognizable ideas, such as ethical questions, and are usually implied rather than stated explicitly . An example of this would be whether one should live a seemingly better life, at the price of giving up parts of one's humanity, which is a theme in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World . Along with plot, character, setting, and style, theme is considered one of the components of fiction . </P>

What is the main theme of a story