What Is Theme in Writing?
A theme is the underlying message or larger idea that a piece of writing is conveying. Themes in stories are often associated with a moral or the reader’s takeaway from what has occurred in the narrative. However, a theme can sometimes simply reflect some truth or observation about life and society without any judgement.
Think of theme as the deeper undercurrent of a story, working parallel to the plot:
- A plot is what a story is about on the surface.
- A theme is what a story is about beneath the surface.
Ultimately, a theme is what a story is about, and the more people who connect to what’s being expressed, the greater the impact the story will have on them.
How To Find Theme in a Story
If you want to know how to find the theme of a story, think of it in musical terms. In music theory, a theme is a melodic passage that gets repeated and reappears throughout a composition. For example, in the Star Wars films, “The Imperial March” also serves as Darth Vader’s theme and will often be heard when his character is on screen. Reoccurring themes used in movie soundtracks are often indicators of a certain character or event transpiring.
Similarly, a theme in storytelling will appear periodically throughout the narrative, appearing in various ways: certain situations repeating themselves, characters discussing the theme (sometimes directly, other times indirectly), character arcs emphasizing it, etc.
If an event or moment in a story makes you think about a broader concept outside the perimeter of its narrative, you’ve probably discovered its theme.
Can a Story Have More Than One Theme?
Yes, a story can have more than one theme, and more ambitious and complex stories often do. Sometimes even a story with a relatively simple plot might tackle several themes. This is often a good approach because without getting bogged down with the complexities of plot, the reader’s mind is open to greater interpretation.
Despite being a short novel that’s more character-driven than plot-driven, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby touches upon various themes: the American Dream, reclamation of the past, class division, etc. Throughout the novel, the carelessness and privilege of the wealthy characters Tom and Daisy Buchanan often crest to the surface whether it be via their words or actions. This causes the reader to think about who they are as people and their social class in general.
Plot and theme might run parallel with each other, but they’re not always congruent. Some stories might be too focused on plot and lack thematic depth, while other stories might be too focused on theme and have plot holes. The ideal story not only contains multiple themes, but it also balances these themes perfectly with the plot.
What Is the Definition of Theme in Film?
The above principals of theme in a novel, short story or theatrical play also apply in film and television. Whenever The Great Gatsby is adapted into a movie, it often explores the same themes as the novel, and even via some of the same techniques. However, because cinema is a visual and audio art form, there are additional ways to convey a theme, such as through images and soundtrack cues.
In Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, control vs chaos is the film’s primary theme. This divide is represented by Batman (control) and the Joker (chaos). In several scenes, the Joker delivers dialogue that brings this theme to the surface, but it’s also represented by the contrast in their appearance, mood, mannerisms and tactics. Bruce Wayne, the man behind Batman, is often in a funk because he cannot control the chaos of the world. The Joker relishes the anarchy and chaos he’s creating. When Batman fights crime, it’s generally methodical and concise. When the Joker commits a crime, it’s loose and instinctual. This duality is even reflected onto a third character: Harvey Dent/Two-Face, who becomes a canvas for Batman and Joker’s philosophical divide.
Sometimes a film might contain several themes that overlap with each other. In Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, themes of male bonding, fading stardom and an ending era are intertwined every time the characters Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth interact with each other. When they separate and interact with other characters, some of these themes remain (e.g. fading stardom and the ending of an era) and others are introduced, such as the power of cinema, memory, and tapping into courage and strength when tested.
As stated, because of its nature as a medium, film lends itself greatly to the exploration of theme and it’s a vital component to cinematic storytelling.
Prominent Themes in Movies
There are no limits to the themes your script can explore, and as our culture evolves, new ideas and questions will emerge. That being said, there are a handful of themes that reappear in movies, and they do so because they’re universal and adaptable to changing times.
Although some themes are more common in certain film genres, all of the below themes are broad enough to appear in various kinds of movies. Also, as noted, a story can have multiple themes, so any of these themes can work alongside one another if they fit your narrative.
Here are 10 Prominent Themes in Movies:
1. Human Connection
This is perhaps the most powerful theme because it deals with one of our deepest desires as human beings. And due to this, the need for human connection appears again and again in movies. Often found in Rom-Coms and romantic dramas, this theme also appears in any film that has a love story or deals with friendship and fraternity.
Examples: Thelma & Louise, Sleepless in Seattle, The Notebook.
2. Good vs Evil
Often found in Action/Adventures or Thriller/Horror, good vs evil is a pretty standard but still viable theme. In real life we can’t always rectify the wrongdoings of cruel and destructive people, but in a movie we can see good people battle bad people and, in most mainstream films, triumph at the end (although modern audiences expect a little more nuance in a villain than depicting them as “evil.”)
Examples: Star Wars, Silence of the Lambs, Lord of the Rings.
3. Revenge
Very prominent in action films and thrillers, audiences love to watch someone who’s been wronged get back at the person who did them dirty. It’s also often a theme involving a villain that’s seeking retribution at any cost. So whether they’re a hero, villain or antihero, if you’ve got a character seeking revenge, it’s likely to entertain people.
Examples: Kill Bill, Skyfall, John Wick.
4. Redemption
Arguably the opposite of a character seeking revenge is one looking for redemption, and this is an extremely popular theme with actors because it makes for a strong and compelling character arc. If your protagonist is in need of redemption, it means they have done something in the past they regret or they have problematic personality traits, which also creates a more interesting role for actors. As such, redemption arcs are pretty much in every genre, but they mostly appear in dramas, dramedies and character-driven films.
Examples: Schindler’s List, Groundhog Day, Gran Torino.
5.Power and Corruption
The flip side of a redemption arc is a character becoming corrupted by power. This is often a theme associated with villains or institutions our hero is fighting against, however, it can also be found in films with a tragic trajectory for the protagonist. We watch the character’s steady “fall from grace,” which ends up destroying the lives of the people around them and creates a dramatically ironic outcome for themselves. This is another theme that appears in nearly every genre, especially films dealing with crime, business and politics.
Examples: Scarface, Revenge of the Sith, There Will Be Blood.
6. The Loss of Innocence
Also known as “coming of age,” this theme focuses on a young character going through a defining experience or period of their life that will shape who they are as a person and create a trajectory for them that is different from where they were initially headed. This theme often appears in films with young protagonists: teen comedies and dramas reflecting on childhood or adolescence.
Examples: The Graduate, Risky Business, Licorice Pizza.
7. Human vs Nature
This theme has an entire subgenre based around it: the survival thriller. However, any film that deals with human beings trying to overcome natural obstacles, whether they’re predatory animals or a harsh environment, is diving headfirst into a human vs nature theme.
Examples: JAWS, The Revenant, The Shallows.
8. Human vs Technology
The flip side to human vs nature is human vs technology. This has always been a popular trope in Sci-Fi, but with our increasing reliance on technology in our daily lives, we’ll only be seeing more films with this as its main theme in the future. Many people feel as if they’re in a Faustian pact with technology: it makes our lives easier, but we don’t entirely trust it, which is why this theme resonates so much with us.
Examples: The Terminator, The Matrix, M3GAN.
9. Individual vs Society
We love to root for the underdog, and what can be a more unbalanced fight than an individual vs society? Not just one fraction or aspect of society but all of it! Many of us feel helpless and like we’re up against an entire system that benefits a small group of elites. Because of this, we cheer when someone pushes back against societal norms and dares to challenge the larger forces that guide our lives (even if the protagonist is a flawed antihero). This theme is especially popular in crime dramas and dystopian Sci-Fi.
Examples: Taxi Driver, Fight Club, The Hunger Games.
10. Perseverance
Because of many of the issues cited above, we sometimes need to be inspired to keep pushing through, especially during tough times. This is why so many of us emotionally respond to a film with a perseverance theme. Usually found in dramas centering on an underdog or hard-luck protagonist, this theme can be deeply powerful for audiences.
Examples: Rocky, Cast Away, The Pursuit of Happyness
How To Create a Theme
When looking to create a theme or multiple themes for your screenplay, dive deeper into your story, beneath the plot and surface traits of your characters. Ask the following questions: What is the emotional through line of your protagonist? What do they desire and how does it run counter to the current state of their life? What obstacles are keeping them from achieving what they want most? Are these obstacles that likewise hinder others in our society?
I’m often advising writers to think of their main characters as symbiotic to their story. By this I mean character and story should always be intertwined, regardless of the type of script you’re writing. Ultimately, a theme is an idea that’s suggested by a character’s interaction with the plot. Therefore, the more you think of storytelling in this fashion, the easier it’ll be to create themes and explore them.
This is also why it’s important to outline your script before writing it. Final Draft has various tools that can assist you to map out your story and help you figure out what themes you want to tackle. Using the Beat Board, you can brainstorm and jot down ideas pertaining to certain themes connected to your characters and plot developments. You can color code beats with a specific theme to distinguish them, and connect them with Flow Lines. Afterwards, drag these beats to the Outline Editor and continue to build your story from there.
Finally, when you’re ready and you have all of your themes worked out, you can send your outline to script and begin writing your first draft.
Theme is not only an important part of screenwriting and a way to expand your ideas past the plot or surface aspects of your characters, it’s a way to get people thinking about what you’ve written. So when outlining your script, consider what themes lend themselves best to your story and characters. Diving deeper and writing thematically will make you grow as a screenwriter, and as a storyteller.