War
The most obvious theme that permeates across this novel is that of war. The entire story is set in the time of the Sri Lankan civil war and shows the futility of war. The story tells the narrative of the countless who fall helpless in the face of war. The theme off war is central to this narrative. The author recounts the stories of countless atrocities that become normalized during the war and talks about how people just vanish during such wars because of state sponsored terrorism.
Identity
Another recurrent theme is that of identity in the novel. Anil takes on her brother's name to better assert her identity. She is unsure of whether she belongs to the east or the west. This identity crisis often affects her thinking and plays a pivotal role in the plot of the novel. She even leaves her oppressive husband who had curbed her freedom and hence posed a threat to her identity.
History
Another significant theme in this novel is that of history. According to Linda Hutcheon, the writer explores postmodern boundaries, weaving together a narrative of the writer's own past. This element comes through forcefully in Anil's Ghost as the whole narrative is a collage of old places and memories. It is the work of the protagonist to find her way in this maze. In this narrative, history coalesces with the personal histories of the characters and builds on a larger theme of war.
