when women didn't have many options. She has remained loyal to her husband for many years, and when she learns of his death, she cries tears of relief for herfreedom. Because Louise represents women living prior to 1900, she represents a theme of sacrificing everything in a marriage, including her own goals and desires, and the devastating effects this can have when few other options exist.

Characters also develop theme through the conflicts they have with other characters (or society, ideas, culture, etc.). In Hamlet, the title character engages in ongoing conflict with Claudius, whom Hamlet learns has killed his father and stolen his crown (and mother). This leads Hamlet to seek revenge, and he delays in action through act after act. This inner turmoil created by the conflict with Claudius points to one of the themes in the play: Revenge has devastating effects on all parties involved.

Characters are often the medium the author uses to deliver an intended theme using many aspects of their settings, conflicts, perspectives, and actions.

Characters contribute significantly to the development of theme in various ways. The characters are the individuals through whose eyes the reader most often observes the story, and so their perception of events creates thematic elements. For instance, in The Great Gatsby, the characters are all shown strictly through Nick Carraway's eyes, and so motifs of yearning and sympathy are established because of his internal motivations and desires, not to mention his fondness for Gatsby. The characters' perspectives help develop the theme, because from another point of view, it could be entirely different.

Additionally, the speech and mannerisms of the characters can lend themselves to a particular theme, enhancing it. For example, if a character is always cryptic and speaks in confusing and mysterious phrases, it would create an air of mystery in the novel, but if they are bold and straightforward, it may imply a theme of leadership and strength.

Characters develop theme through their words, thoughts, and actions. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, to take one example, a main theme of the book concerns the mental-health system's clinical, uncaring attitude toward hospitalized patients. Nurse Ratchet conveys this theme in her cold-hearted words and authoritarian actions.

In The Snows of Kilimanjaro, to cite another example, the main theme is the meaning of life. Author Ernest Hemingway uses a series of interior monologues, set in italic type, that detail how the dying protagonist, Harry, comes to terms with his life.

In another Hemingway short story—A Clean, Well-Lighted Place—he reveals the theme of loneliness primarily through dialogue. A very old deaf man is sitting by himself in a cafe one late night/early morning. The theme is established by waiters in the otherwise-empty space talking about him. The old man, himself, says just ten words.

If a novel is well-written, its characters will be an extension of its themes. The best writing "shows" a theme, through its characters, rather than explicitly "telling" readers the theme up front. Other devices, such as setting and mood, can help reveal theme, but the story's characters usually play the most important role.