Themes

• loyalty
• human vs. human and creature vs. human
  
• human vs. self
• human vs. society- person vs. world
  
• free will vs. captivity
• free will vs. fate/ destiny
  
• search for power
• search for freedom
• human condition- wants to feel needed and useful- what he does to gain respect and to feel good about him self
• greed
• good vs. evil
• pride/hubris
• God's power in our lives
• revenge
  
• cruelty
  
• hatred
• The idea of is the grass truly greener on the other side
• love
• God's law vs. mortal law
• despair
• hope
• person vs. death
• fear
• legacy
• role of women
• descent to hell
  
• leadership
• braggart vs. hero
• pagan vs. Christian
• beliefs and values in the story
• giving of gifts- gift appreciation
• view of afterlife
• ritual-burial ways also
• spiritual ordeal
• intervention of God/gods
• respect