I distinctly remember discussing Shakespeare in my high school English class. We were discussing themes in Hamlet and, being young and stupid (ok, young-er and stupid-er), I wondered whether themes were something that were intentional or just sort of happened in a work accidentally. I mean, did Shakespeare really plan on exploring the themes of "the impossibility of certainty," "the complexity of action" and "the mystery of death?" Or was he just writing for the sake of writing and those things sort of worked their way in?
I admit that when I begin a story, even if I'm planning on it being deep and meaningful, I don't think much about "This is my theme." I just let the story unfold, let the characters do what they need to do, and just write.
When I let one of my coworkers read my second-ish draft of FURY, I was surprised when he came back with, "I loved how you explored the theme of bestiality in humans." Cough. Yeah, that's totally what I was going for. So glad you caught onto that. Ahem.
But the more I write, the more I realize that some themes do occur subliminally. It's not a talent, I've learned. Really, I think themes work themselves into my writing because I've done so much reading.
Yes, you do have to be a good reader to be a good writer.
I'm not saying I pick up most books for the sake of discovering what lies beneath the story, but when a story really stays with me, it's because I connected with one or more of the themes.
Let's take The Hunger Games, for example. One prevalent theme is "the question of when does survival no longer excuse violence?" The MC has no problem killing to save herself, but there comes a point when she understands that there is a line that can be crossed...but will she cross it anyway?
In my story, Dragon Queen, one of my themes is "the influence of others upon ourselves and how it shapes our characters." It didn't happen intentionally, but manifested through the events in the story. And, really, that's how I think it's supposed to work. The story makes the themes, not the other way around. But, I don't know, I'm still contemplating it.
Your thoughts?
Hmm... wow. This is a deep post. And it's something to really think about.
ReplyDeleteI think when an author decides CONCSIOUSLY to put a theme in thier work, usually the writing becomes forced. Becuase, truth be told, the writer isn't nessisarily interested in how a certain theme works, but in how the characters react to a situation. Different character personalities bring in different themes, but the writer isn't usually concsious of the fact: if a writer has a character who seems very self-confident and outgoing, as the writer we are going to explore inner feelings... who is she really, and why does she act this way? Does she actually feel a different way? How does she reacti if I make THIS happen to her? And exploring these aspects of a personality can pull in a theme that no one expected... especially the author.
Very good post. I think I want to come back and read it again so I can think about it some more.
It's the same with my writing. I didn't start out four years ago with all these themes in mind and now I can probably list a couple main themes and eight or so smaller themes that show up!
ReplyDeleteWhat causes this, I think, is that when we first begin writing, we really only have a very genreal idea of where our story is going and who our characters are. But as we get in touch with all of of that and branch out our ideas, themes begin to take shape. I can't really explain it beyond that... xD
Great post!