Does a story need a theme?

[CarburetorThompson]

Been told every good story has a theme, a core message that is conveyed when reading it, even if it’s never expressly said as such.

I’ve found a lot of eastern light novels manwha/manga especially isekai fantasy kind of lack a theme and is just character going from place to place and series of events happening.

Despite a lack of any narrative message I’ve still found stories like that enjoyable so I was wondering if people think a story needs a theme,

 

[SailusGebel]

No.

 

[Tempokai]

What is a theme if not a miserable pile of concepts?

 

[ArchlordZero]

False.
Most eastern novels have this theme of "If I save this girl, maybe she'll fall in love with me and let me see half a boobie."

 

[SailusGebel]

False.
Most eastern novels have this theme of "If I save this girl, maybe she'll fall in love with me and let me see half a boobie."

 

[Corty]

It does need a theme, at least. Because I wouldn't enjoy the story if:

• It starts off as an isekai fantasy
• but then it introduces dinosaurs
• who are refugees from space
• and now we are in space ships, traveling to a black hole
• suddenly, after arriving, it turns out we are in Transformers fanfic.
• And now it is a smut technophile novel.

At least have a fixed theme that keeps the story together.

 

[Tyranomaster]

I think it's not possible to not have a theme. Even if you try really hard to not have a theme, it will. The theme would just end up being "having no coherence".

That said, there are plenty of bad or bland themes that people end up with.

 

[RiaCorvidiva]

To some extent, themes will fall out of a well-written story. It doesn't need to be written from the ground up with a theme in mind to hammer home at every opportunity.

 

[Dieter]

I still don't know what theme means. It's clearly not what everyone assume what theme means, because no one starts writing their story with a core-message in mind which basically amounts to a corny-quote, or likes having their story summarized into a single sentence.

 

[BearlyAlive]

It does need a theme, at least. Because I wouldn't enjoy the story if:

• It starts off as an isekai fantasy
• but then it introduces dinosaurs
• who are refugees from space
• and now we are in space ships, traveling to a black hole
• suddenly, after arriving, it turns out we are in Transformers fanfic.
• And now it is a smut technophile novel.

At least have a fixed theme that keeps the story together.

Why? This sounds so much better than 99% of your typical isekai!

 

[MajorKerina]

Even if you're writing porn it has an idea to it.

The themes of Tolkien are the corruption of power. Other stories find that morality doesn't have to be absolute. Ethics must lead. Etc.

In my stories I recently talked with my muse about themes.

The themes in my works are the immense, often untapped potential of humanity. So many science fiction stories are like "humanity can evolve into a better state than we are right now". I like to think that humanity right now is the most precious and valuable and amazing thing around. It doesn't take some far-flung future or evolution or transhuman discovery. It just takes the right time and the right place and the right determination in ourselves. And that greatness is balanced out by potential darkness. Focus on our best selves. It's all right with us. At the same time, there's the hopeful determination that there are forces outside ourselves that want to see us succeed. There is a minefield of potential leeches and darknesses but also helpers and friends.

And how did the stories foster that theme talking shows characters who fight against the forces of power and corruption. Characters are shown with morality that doesn't exist in black-and-white for other stuff. And with my writing I display the optimism of humanity and how we may try to turn against one another or feel negative feelings or hurt but if we come together then we have great potential that can change the universes and alter fate and overcome the mistakes of generations past. We can't run away from who we are and our obligations. Perseverance and love and sacrifice endure over hopelessness hate and selfishness. With all that even the most insurmountable odds can be overcome

 

[Jocelyn_Uasal]

9.9999 times out of 10, a story's theme is NOT explained or elaborated on by the author, and even if an author does go out and say "My book is about (whatever)!" nobody is going to listen to them since the book will tell its own story.

You can write a story with a specific theme in mind, but even if you dont your story will have a theme regardless. And if you did go out of your way to build an entire story around a specific theme, there's no guarantee that you'll actually hit the mark. It's more likely that you'll end up talking about something else accidentally. It happens a lot.

 

[WinterTimeCrime]

I gave up on a theme for my novels. I liked to write gore, and people seemed cool with that.

If you're a decent enough author, a good story has a theme that various readers can interpret differently. If you only try to write to appeal to a specific audience, you can alienate others completely.

That's why, albeit their popularity, shows like My Hero Academy have a general populous of fans with 'Hero Syndrome,' wanting to change themselves, thinking good-natured virtues will take them far, etc., that only appeal to children and young adults.

While Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, despite having the same core message, have several approaches surrounding the 'Hero Syndrome' trope but branched off into many relatable topics such as seeing people for their nature and weaknesses, emotional trauma, etc., that can appeal to pretty much anyone under the notion that the hero 'may not always win.'

 

[MajorKerina]

if you have a plot, you have a theme.

Best way to distill it is: Plot is what matters in a story. Theme is why.

 

[Tyranomaster]

because no one starts writing their story with a core-message in mind which basically amounts to a corny-quote, or likes having their story summarized into a single sentence.

This is strictly untrue. Most children's stories start from a theme or singular idea, and are then fleshed out around that life lesson. Obviously non-fiction works are exclusively centered around a singular idea or set of ideas. Often times themes are picked in fantasy in conjunction with world design well before the first words are written. Many times the author might not consciously say, "I'm using this theme" but they do say, "I want to write a story about a girl who learns to love herself despite her flaws through X means." which is a theme, or "I want to write about an anti-hero who still saves the day" which is a theme.

 

[melchi]

It does need a theme, at least. Because I wouldn't enjoy the story if:

• It starts off as an isekai fantasy
• but then it introduces dinosaurs
• who are refugees from space
• and now we are in space ships, traveling to a black hole
• suddenly, after arriving, it turns out we are in Transformers fanfic.
• And now it is a smut technophile novel.

At least have a fixed theme that keeps the story together.

Is this from experience? (searches for corty's prior work that fits this plot)

 

[georgelee5786]

No, but I think large, complex stories benefit from one

 

[Corty]

Is this from experience? (searches for corty's prior work that fits this plot)

Not something I did, it's just when there are stories that clearly the author got bored with and changed styles midway or the whole rules of the story.

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

Eastern themes are "how is the most efficient way to get my balls drained?".

Does a story need a theme? Kind of hard not to have one even if one is not actively thinking about it.

 

[melchi]

Not something I did, it's just when there are stories that clearly the author got bored with and changed styles midway or the whole rules of the story.

Aww, it sounded kinda fun.