Accepted and Unaccepted Love
One of the major themes that is featured in this novel is the theme of love, although the manner in which it is presented varies throughout the novel. One of the vessels through which this theme is presented would be the forbidden incestuous love between Jack and Julie. In this case, love is presented as frowned upon and unattainable. However, the theme of love is also presented through the relationship between Julie and Derek. In this relationship, love is presented as lacking as their relationship is largely a loveless one. However, in the eyes of society, their relationship is still considered to be normal.
Death
The theme of death is another one of the major themes in the novel. In the novel, we see two major deaths: the deaths of the children's mother and father. Through their deaths, death is presented as highly destabilizing and having vast implications on the people who are closest to the departed. In the novel, we see this through the downward spiral in the lives and behaviors of the children that happens when their parents pass away.
