Internal Conflict
Internal struggles pervade the novel, and several characters have battles with themselves. Theo obsesses over his theft of the painting, and leads himself into anxious spirals over it. He also feels immense guilt over his mother's death, and starts to take drugs and drink to cope, falling into a cycle of addiction. He also fights to find truth and meaning in his life, and is unsure whether to give the painting to the authorities or keep it for himself. He often undermines himself with his illegal activities and destructive behaviors. At the end of the novel, Theo sets out to remedy much of the destruction he has caused, and finds a reason to live and persevere after confronting his inner demons.
Childhood Trauma
Several characters in the novel survive difficult childhoods. Theo is neglected by his father until his father tries to steal a large amount of money from him. Theo's father also suffers a difficult childhood at the hands of his abusive father and mother, and Theo dreads the possibility of living with his grandparents. Unable to fully accept his mother's death, Theo holds The Goldfinch as a memory of her and the pain of the Metropolitan Museum bombing. He also holds onto Pippa as a way to cope with and soothe his grief. Tartt leads the reader through the stages of grief, and eventually Theo confronts his trauma and accepts it, even though he still feels guilt over his mother's death.
Addiction
Addiction factors heavily into the novel, as several characters, including Theo, Larry and Boris, struggle with drug addiction. Theo's addiction is a way of numbing himself and self-medicating for his anxiety and guilt. Boris becomes an addict after years of childhood neglect and abuse. Larry also faces significant childhood abuse, and self-medicates with alcohol and prescription opiates. These characters may have an opportunity to overcome their addiction, but they also rely on their drug-taking to cope with their trauma.
Good vs. Evil
Good and evil are consistently blurred throughout the novel, as Tartt explores the complexity of the characters. Some characters fall into the category of overwhelmingly good, like Pippa and Hobie, and some are overwhelmingly bad, like Martin and Lucius. These characters interact with Theo in ways that lead him to act positively or negatively. In the presence of evil, Theo is motivated to break the law, lie, steal, cheat, and commit murder, while in the presence of good characters he is motivated to do good. Tartt thus makes us aware of how external good and evil and the battle between them can shape a person.
Death in the Family
Several characters in the novel experience the deaths of their immediate family members. Theo loses both of his parents, Pippa loses her uncle Welty and her parents, and the Barbours lose Andy and Mr. Barbour. The characters in the novel are united by these deaths and help each other to cope. The ways these characters react to the death of their loved ones also reveals a lot about how good and bad they truly are.
Loss of Innocence
Early in the novel, Theo experiences the death of his mother, and the consequential loss of innocence that goes with this death. He preserves some hope, and carries that hope with the painting. The painting is part of his naivete—the belief that his mother might come back, that he might never have to deal with repercussions for stealing the painting, and that he may fully recover from the trauma of the bombing. As Theo grows older, he becomes significantly more jaded and distraught. But, at the end of the novel, he decides life is worth living, even if it is painful, as he searches for glimmers of magic, of hope and light. Tartt guides the reader through this loss of innocence, but shows that hope can lie on the other side.
Guilt
Guilt is central throughout the novel, as several characters cope with guilt, or with the relative lack of it. There is a strong contrast between characters who feel extremely guilty, like Theo and Pippa, and those who do not, like Kitsey and Larry. Theo and Pippa both feel extreme guilt for the deaths of Audrey and Welty, as they both recount the events of that day, and the actions they could have taken to avoid the museum and the bombing. When they discuss the bombing, they realize that their guilt is largely irrational, but they cannot free themselves of it. Larry and Kitsey do not feel guilty for their actions, and they cheat and lie without bearing responsibility for their actions. Tartt thus explores the two extremes of guilt, and how both can ruin lives.
