Civilized
One of the main themes in the novel is civilization. The action is set in a natural setting, the mansion being located in nature. However, the characters all behave in a civilized manner. Even the terrorists break the stereotype surrounding them and prove that they are just like anyone else. The characters gravitate towards an ordered life and because of this they try to make their time spent in captivity seem as normal as possible. The fall in a routine and learn, love and communicate with one another. Because they had fallen into a routine, the dread the day when things will change and they will have to leave the mansion. This proves that man’s natural instinct is towards civilization and not towards barbaric actions.
Love
Love is another theme in the novel and it is not limited to romantic love. While the relationship between various characters is presented, it is often perceived as being superficial and the result of the situation they found themselves in. If they were in a normal setting, the characters would have probably never noticed one another. What is genuine is their love for art. Love for music especially appears here and the characters are moved by Coss’s singing. When the Russian official expresses his love for Coss, he compares it with the love he feels for literature. This proves that the most pure type of love and the highest type of love is love of art. Everything else is corrupted and impure and could never produce the same effect in someone as art does.
Revelation
Almost every character has some kind of revelation during which they realize what is really important. The idea that they could die at any moment and that things could end badly for them make them thinks about what really matters the most and about the relationship they have with those around him. The novel also reveals the inner thoughts of some of the character who realize that their current occupation is not really their calling and that they could be better at doing something else. One such character is the vice-president, who realizes that he would rather do manual labor than be involved in politics.
