One common theme is interference. Like in the example I mentioned before, the mother - in - law interfering in the couple's daily life, be it cooking, decorating or financial matters.
In many monster in law stories, a sense of entitlement is present. The mother - in - law feels entitled to have a say in every aspect of the couple's life. She might think that because she raised her son, she has the right to decide how he lives his married life. Another common theme is creating conflict. By constantly causing trouble, either through words or actions, the mother - in - law stirs up problems in the relationship between the son and daughter - in - law. This can range from small disagreements to full - blown family feuds.
One common element is over - interference. The mother - in - law often gets involved in the couple's affairs way too much, like in decisions about having children or how to manage finances.
Power struggles are also common. For instance, in - laws may want to be the dominant ones in the family, making decisions for the couple instead of letting them make their own choices. This often leads to a lot of family drama and unhappiness.
A major theme is often related to inheritance. The daughter - in - law might be overly concerned with getting a larger share of the family inheritance and start creating problems. Also, jealousy can be a theme. If the in - laws seem to favor another family member, the daughter - in - law can become jealous and act out in negative ways, like being cold or hostile towards them.
One common theme is the fear of the unknown. Monsters often represent things that are beyond human understanding, like in 'The Call of Cthulhu' where Cthulhu is an incomprehensible and terrifying entity. Another theme is the battle between good and evil. The humans usually have to face the monstrous evil, as in 'The Monkey's Paw' where the family tries to deal with the evil consequences of using the paw.
Fear is a common theme. The fear of the unknown, like not knowing what the monster looks like or what it can do. Another is isolation. Often, the characters are isolated, either in a spooky old house or in a desolate place, which makes them more vulnerable to the monster. Death is also a prevalent theme as the monster usually poses a threat to the characters' lives.
One common theme is jealousy. Just like I said before, when you achieve something, they might be jealous and try to bring you down. Another theme could be boundary issues. Some sibling - in - laws don't respect your personal space or privacy. For example, they might go through your things without permission.
Overwork is a common theme. Lawyers are often expected to work crazy hours, sacrificing their personal lives. Another is unethical behavior, like partners taking credit for junior lawyers' work or overbilling clients.
One common theme is over - interference. Future mother - in - laws often try to interfere in the couple's relationship, like deciding when they should have kids or how they should manage their finances.
Another theme is criticism. They are likely to criticize the daughter - in - law's appearance, behavior, or career choices. Maybe she doesn't like the way the daughter - in - law dresses and makes snide comments all the time.