A theme is a universal idea, lesson, or message explored throughout a work of literature or film. It represents the underlying meaning or the central topic that a story conveys about human experience, often expressed through characters, plot, and setting. Unlike a simple topic or subject (such as love or war), a theme includes the author's specific viewpoint or message about that topic-for example, "learning to love yourself" rather than just "love"

. Themes are usually broad and open-ended, allowing for multiple interpretations, and they often explore complex issues like justice, power, family, or identity. A story can have multiple themes, which may interact or even conflict with each other to create depth and nuance

. In summary, a theme is:

• The central, unifying idea or message in a narrative
• More than just a topic; it includes the author's opinion or insight on that topic
• Expressed implicitly through the story's elements rather than stated outright
• Often universal, applicable beyond the story to broader human experiences

For example, in The Godfather , the major theme is "power consumes the powerless," while a minor theme is "family is the most important thing in the world"

. Thus, a theme is the core meaning or moral that the story aims to communicate.