The abuse cycle
Abuse moves in a circle, it seems from the plot. The narrator goes from abused boy to dysfunctional man, having been abused in his home by a father who also severely mistreated his mother in front of the boy. The abuse taught the child to hate himself, because the abuse is interpreted through his animal instincts to grow and adapt. When he punches himself in the face, it is clear what the unintended effects of the father's anger were: he taught self-hatred to his son.
Drug abuse
This story quickly veers away from a hopeful tale. Before long, the boy is caught up in drugs. His father is discovered to be a drug addict as well, which shouldn't be too surprising, given the violent, extreme nature of his abuse, and also given the absolute narcissism and childishness of the father. These are typical signals of addiction, and when the boy finds drugs, he too takes solace in them. The boy has also inherited his dependency and escapism.
Mental control and domination
The novel explores the way masculinity can be used as a tool to control others. By instilling fear, and by using complicated mental games to excuse his hateful ways, the father controls the family's self-perception. The goal of the father's mental control is to alleviate the risk of something happening that he doesn't want to happen. His desire for control is ultimate, so he ends up psychologically damaging anyone who tries to coexist with him.
