Class
Class is one of the novel's central themes. The village in which the novel takes place is a world entirely shaped by class status. The Brahmins enjoy an easier lifestyle, with better housing and food, because of the simple fact of their class. This quality is particularly underlined in the characters of Garuda and Lakshmana. In contrast, people like Belli and Chandri are forced to perform difficult, menial labor and live in squalor. Praneshacharya is greatly troubled by this discrepancy, as he feels that someone like Chandri is more deserving of wealth than Garuda. Ananthamurthy reveals the harmfulness of this social structure, as he highlights how the wealthy Brahmins have not earned their status and only use it to hurt other members of their community. The caste system that creates these divides is harshly critiqued in the novel.
Desire
Desire is another of the novel's main themes. Naranappa is considered an outcast in the village for leaving his wife for Chandri, who belongs to a lower caste. People believe that he did so because he was incapable of resisting his physical desires. In contrast, Praneshacharya is seen as the most virtuous member of the community, as he has chosen to remain celibate, studies sacred texts, and cares for his almost completely disabled wife. However, Praneshacharya begins to question the virtue of negating desire after sleeping with Chandri. He wonders if he has romantic feelings for her while also taking note of the fact that she is a kind and generous person. By the novel's end, it becomes increasingly clear that the suppression of desire is not necessarily a virtue, but merely a facet of social code.
Greed
Greed is another major theme in the book. In the aftermath of Naranappa's death, people are immediately fixated on the question of who will get his large sums of gold. Claims are put forward by both Garuda and Lakshama who argue that their relations to Naranappa make them obvious candidates. People are disturbed by their focus on this matter as neither of them wants to enact the funeral rites, but they both want to reap the benefits of some proximity to Naranappa. In direct opposition, Chandri offers her jewelry as payment for Naranappa's funeral rituals. The novel draws attention to the hypocritical greed shown by members of the upper class, showing how easily they are corrupted by their desire for wealth. While they criticize Chandri and Naranappa, their own morals appear no better.
Faith
Faith is also a key theme in the book. The different characters put a huge degree of emphasis on the religion of Hinduism. It provides the structure of their society and dictates the rules and regulations of life in the village. Characters like Naranappa who reject these rules are viewed with anger and derision. However, as the novel progresses, Praneshacharya comes to see a certain degree of truth in Naranappa's harsh comments. Brahmins like Garuda claim to be devout but are openly spiteful, gossipy, and greedy. Praneshacharya begins to wonder about the sincerity of their faith when people like Chandri, who actually reflect its values, are treated as low-class citizens. The novel questions whether its characters truly believe in their religion, or if they are merely going through the motions of it in order to secure social approval.
Devotion
Devotion is another central theme in the book. Praneshacharya is treated as an incredibly important figure in the community because of his devotion to his faith. He remains celibate despite being married, because his wife is physically incapable of having sex. He cares for his wife every night, meeting her every need, even feeding her before he has eaten anything. He studies ancient texts scrupulously and is wholly focused on his reading. Praneshacharya's image as the ideal Brahmin is later complicated when he sleeps with Chandri, as he feels he has committed a terrible wrong and broken away from his devotion to the core tenets of his faith. He struggles with the question of whether one can enjoy elements of earthly pleasure while still remaining a truly pious Brahmin.
Community
Community is a major theme in the novel. Like many of the other values espoused by the characters, the value of community is closely examined. What becomes apparent is that the village is not as tightly knit as it initially appears, as no one feels a civil obligation to help those around them. Shripati does not choose to help Belli with her difficult living conditions, despite the fact that they are sleeping together. Garuda makes no effort to care for Naranappa's corpse even though he covets his material wealth. People are not bound to each other in meaningful relationships; they consider others mostly in terms of what they stand to gain from them. So many of the connections between people in the village hinge on transactions and trades, and almost none of them take root in care or kindness.
Mortality
Mortality is also a major theme in the novel. Naranappa's death results in Praneshacharya's spiritual crisis. He questions how to judge the value of a life of a person who showed a blatant disregard for the customs of their religion. At the same time, he begins to wonder about the piety of the Brahmins around him and, later, himself. Naranappa's death forces him to consider what the meaning of his life is and what ultimately determines whether or not someone is worthy of traditional funeral rites. Mortality takes on significance in the book in that it marks the end of someone's potential to change, leaving people to judge the sum total of their existence.
