The Tin Flute

Themes

Dispossession

The novel details the loss of many things in the lives of several characters. For Rose-Anna, it is the loss of her children: Eugene to the army, Florentine to marriage, and Daniel to death. For Azarius, it is the loss of his vocation and subsequently his identity as a "man".

Solitude

Despite being about a family, the novel demonstrates the solitude of the various characters. For Rose-Anna, that is best seen at the end of the novel, when she gives birth practically alone. She feels completely alone and even Azarius is not there when she calls for him.

Feminine condition

The condition of the woman is treated throughout the novel both on the individual level (in the lives of Rose-Anna and her daughter, Florentine) and universally when Rose-Anna identifies with women across the world who are affected by the senselessness of war. Feminist undertones can be found in the way Roy describes Rose-Anna's role in the family. Rose-Anna is, in some ways, a victim of circumstance with a husband who has no work, poverty that causes her to go searching for new lodging every spring, and her Catholic faith that does not allow her to use birth control and results in many pregnancies which take their toll on her both physically and emotionally.

Futility of war

Roy shows many opinions on the war by various characters, but there is a strong sense of war being senseless. Emmanuel is one character (along with Rose-Anna) who questions the meaning and motive behind going to war. He struggles with his own motivations and concludes that the purpose for going to war must be to end it one day. Another perspective on the conflict is embodied by both Azarius and Eugene; these two characters use enlistment as a method of escape from their poverty-stricken lives. Eugene sacrifices his security for a modicum of (mainly financial) independence from his family, whereas Azarius enlists as a last-ditch attempt to better his family's lives. In both cases, the characters enlisting are not doing so out of honor or virtue, but rather a misguided attempt to escape the economic conditions of their home.


This content is from Wikipedia. GradeSaver is providing this content as a courtesy until we can offer a professionally written study guide by one of our staff editors. We do not consider this content professional or citable. Please use your discretion when relying on it.