The Spare Room Themes and Issues

How has the author constructed the themes?

Themes and Issues -explanation

• In literature, a theme is a broad idea in a story, or a message or lesson conveyed by a text.

• Authors use themes to position their readers and to explore life, society or human nature.

What are the main themes in The Spare Room ?

• Kathryn Lomer has used three major themes in the construction of her novel The Spare Room. The reader is positioned to respond to these issues in a particular way.

What is the first theme? How is it used to position the reader?

• The first major issue in The Spare Room is family and relationships. Akira struggles with his relationships at home in Japan. He wishes his father would show more emotion and interest towards him. In Australia he is faced with a similar problem. The homestay family does not seem to be interested in him and he does not feel welcome or appreciated.

• This theme is used to position the readers to feel sympathy towards Akira and understand the problems he faces in terms of relationships in both countries. The use of this theme makes the readers feel angry and frustrated towards the characters who mistreat Akira.

What is the second theme? How is it used to position the reader?

• The second major issue explored in the novel is living in a foreign culture. Akira faces many problems and is, at times, lost in the new environment. Lomer often describes issues related to living in a foreign country in a humorous way, which reinforces the representation of Akira as a sympathetic character.

• The use of this theme positions readers to understand the problems people face when they move from one cultural context to another.

What is the third theme? How is it used to position the reader?

• The third major issue is the theme of death. Both Akira and the Moffat family have lost someone they love. This theme is evident throughout the text; however, it is not clearly stated until at the end of the novel. The characters’ actions and feelings position the readers to understand what grieving people might feel and how their personalities and actions may be affected by sad events.

• Through the use of the third theme, we are positioned to feel very sorry for both Akira and the Moffat family and understand their hardships when dealing with a death of a loved one.