Magic
Magic is one of the main themes in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Superstition and ghost stories dominate the cultural conversation in Malawi, and William experiences early on in his life both the good and bad effects of magic. He sees manglomera, a superhuman strength, used by a seasonal worker Phiri to do double the work of a normal worker, but when trying to apply that magic to himself, it fails and leaves him with sore knuckles and a fight he cannot win. This weariness regarding magic comes from his father, who positions magic as a respected force in the world that can nonetheless be challenged with reasonable actions. When William builds the windmill, many are suspicious of it, and accuse him of practicing magic to blow the wind away, but when he explains the science behind the contraption, they are less convinced of its harmful supernatural abilities and accept its scientific power.
Innovation
William is always curious about how things work. In the process of dismantling radios, he learns how to repair them, leading to a radio repair shop with his cousin Geoffrey. After learning to repair and maintain things, however, William tries to make his own inventions, making a windmill, trying to create a water pump for his family, and even trying to use biogas to power his family's kitchen. Of course, not all of these experiments are successful, but William very much embodies the spirit of innovation. He is constantly seeking to improve on his older projects, and never fails to find new ideas and projects to take on.
Perseverance
When William is younger and asks about the inner workings of a radio, he is not given a satisfactory answer. This topic haunts him for some time, and when he finally discovers the answer in a book, it is through the sheer force of his will. From educating himself at the library to acquiring a dynamo, William always shows perseverance in the face of difficulties.
Individual vs. Society
Throughout the book, William often faces society as an individual, from being bullied as a child for being scrawny to defending his windmill when he is older. As a kid, William tries to use magic to become stronger so that the other kids will respect him more. However, this backfires, and William's first experience with magic is soured. Later, when his neighborhood doubts the efficacy of his windmill, he shrugs them off with the hope that seeing the project come to fruition will change their minds. This hope eventually comes true, and his creation convinces them that he was correct.
Survival
Electricity and other modern conveniences are not common in Malawi, but people will find a way to survive regardless. This is made especially clear when the entire country must survive through a famine by themselves without any government assistance. Throughout much of the book, the people of Malawi are simply getting by day to day, year to year. When William drops out of school, he is afraid that he will become a vagrant, wandering the streets and playing bawo all day. As a result of this fear, he goes to the library constantly and subsequently learns about the windmill, elevating his standard of living tremendously. This demonstrates how sometimes it is not enough to survive—one must overcome the obstacles of basic necessities and try to improve as much as possible.
Community
One of the most important lessons in this book is to take the help of the community members around you, especially friends and family. Throughout his journey, William is constantly encouraged and supported by his friends and family. His father believes in him when all others do not appear to do so, allowing him the time to innovate instead of asking him to work on the farm. Geoffrey, his cousin, offers his time and energy, helping to scavenge parts when necessary and lending an extra hand whenever William needs one. Gilbert is often the reason that William has the right parts that he needs, and he also carries a lot of heavy parts whenever necessary. William thinks of the idea of creating a windmill, but he could not make one without the help of his friends, family, and community.
Education
Throughout the book, William constantly struggles with getting an education. When he is younger, it is easier, but as he grows older, many things keep him from going to secondary school and beyond. From the famine to his family's poverty, he is barred from entering school because of a lack of fees. While he is able to do incredible things by simply reading books from the library, the resources and mentorship that comes from a proper education are kept from him. Even as an older student, William still understands the importance of education and goes to school despite being older than many of the students there. One of William's role models in this respect is Dr. Mchazime, who received a higher education when he was 33 and struggled a lot to get there. As he notes, "Without education, he's limited" (255). Without the proper credentials to his name, William is not as respected as someone with a proper education, and so is barred from many opportunities.
