Toxic family environment
The novel is explicit in its portrayal of a toxic family environment, where the parents are mentally and physically abusive to each other. The three boys learn to disrespect their mother from the young age, following the example of their father, which is shown in the mother’s desire for them to not grow up at all. They grow up being little animals, clawing at their parents for what they need, seeing the example from their parents who are selfish to each other and show little compassion.
Homosexuality
The novel explores the theme of homosexuality and the fear of stigmatization in relation to it. As the narrator grows up his sexuality slowly awakens, realizing his sexual preference. Living in a family with little understanding for each other, he suppresses himself expecting to not be accepted. His violent outburst towards the end and resulting hospitalization is a result of shame and humiliation because of the inability to be himself among his toxic family.
Struggles of racial identity
Despite operating in an understated way, the novel also questions the theme of racial identity of children coming from a mixed marriage. The three boys coming from a mixed marriage often find it difficult to find their place among their peers, not having a sense of belonging to either side of their heritage, which bring further confusion to their sense of self combined with the toxicity of their familial environment.
