What is the underlying theme in a story?

it is the main thing of a story or what the main character is trying to do in the book

The theme of a novel is its main ideas. For instance, a main theme of the novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain is whether racism is correct or not.

A theme is the central idea of the story that is inferred by the reader from details in the story. An example is humility can raise people to greatness.


The 'theme' is often used to describe a topical issue that runs through the story, for example, fatherhood, unrequited love, racism. It can also be more subtle which colors the plot, sets the tone, and gives the story context. For example; water, the sky, sex, and can often be found in the story's imagery and metaphors.