One of the themes in this play is the power of words versus violence.

The theme of the power of words versus violence is evident in the actions of all three of the play's main characters. Mr. M believes that a broken or prejudiced political system must be attacked from the inside, with knowledge and words. In contrast, Thami believes that such a political system must be destroyed with force.... with violence. Isabel's relationship to the political issue of apartheid was perhaps most analogous to the audiences who first saw Fugard's play. They were bystanders to the political issue, perhaps directly benefited by the dominant political system. Isabel becomes aware of the political problems that she ignored as a child, but does not involve herself in actually dismantling the system, involving herself in neither Mr. M or Thami's ideologies of change.