What are the common themes in Mary Lavin's short stories?

Sure. 'The Becker Wives' is one of her notable short stories. It delves into the complex relationships within a family and the different perspectives of the women in it.

One common theme could be love. Christmas is often a time for people to come together, and in Mary Balogh's stories, love might be expressed between characters in various forms, such as romantic love or the love within a family. Another theme could be redemption. The holiday spirit might inspire characters to make amends or change for the better. Also, the sense of community could be a theme, as Christmas is a time when communities often gather and celebrate.

Love and loss are common themes. For example, in many of her stories, characters experience the pain of losing someone they love and then learn to move forward. Another theme is self - discovery. Characters often find out more about themselves through various situations in her short fictions.

Superstition. The main theme is often the superstition around the 'Bloody Mary' ritual. People in the story usually test it out, not fully believing it at first.

Self - discovery is another theme. Mary Oliver's characters, whether human or animal - like in her more fable - like short stories, are often on a journey of understanding themselves. They learn about their place in the world, their purpose, and how they fit into the larger scheme of things. This is seen in many of her works where the protagonist has an 'aha' moment about their own identity.

Family relationships are also a major theme. Freeman shows the complex dynamics within families, such as the power struggles between parents and children or between siblings. Also, the theme of isolation is present, as many of her characters feel alone in their situations, whether it's because of their social standing or their personal beliefs.

Well, a frequent theme was the human condition. Writers in the 1800s were interested in how people reacted to different situations. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', it was about the psychological state of the narrator. Also, the theme of fate was there. In some stories, characters seemed to be at the mercy of fate, like in some of the darker Poe stories. And then, there was the theme of change, like in 'Rip Van Winkle' where the main character wakes up to a changed world.

Another common theme is transformation. The characters may change throughout the story as a result of their experiences in the 's and m' - like power relationships. They might start off in one state of mind or position and end up in a completely different one. This transformation can be physical, but more often it is psychological, as they adapt to the power dynamics and the consequences that come with them.

One common theme is the exploration of power dynamics. In many of his stories, we can see how power is exerted, whether it's in a colonial context or in more personal relationships.

One common theme was the Great Depression. Many stories depicted the hardships and struggles of the people during that tough economic time. For example, stories might show families losing their jobs and homes.