The Importance of Family
Noah Underwood, as a young boy, has yet to fully discover the true importance of family. In many ways, Flush could be considered a coming-of-age novel because Noah begins to understand the complex relationships between members of his family and the true evil that can exist in the world.
After his father, Paine, is arrested and believed to have sunk the ship the Coral Queen, Noah's mother begins to contemplate divorce, and talks to him about it. Noah is saddened to face the reality that his family could be broken up in this way, and sets out to prove his father innocent.
Due to his strong attachment to his father, Noah us able to prove that Paine did not sink the ship, nor set it on fire. Noah forges a deeper relationship with Paine in this way. He also comes closer to his sister, Abbey, who he used to simply consider an annoyance. Abbey tagged along and helped discover that Dusty was doing evil things, and Noah came to respect her for this.
Selfishness and Money
Dusty Muleman, as a casino boat operator, is hardly likable in any way. Living up to the stereotype of a greedy casino owner that puts profits over people, Dusty tries to protect his wealth and ship in any way possible. Some of his assistance even point a gun to Noah and his sister when they are confronted with the prospect of losing their business.
To protect himself and his casino from being punished by law, Dusty also blames Noah's father, Paine for many of the problems that occur on board. After the ship sinks, Paine is blamed. When the ship catches fire due to the careless actions of Dusty's son while smoking a cigarette, Paine is blamed. Dusty blames others because he wants to protect himself and does not want to take responsibility for his own actions.
Environmental Conservation
Noah's father Paine introduces readers to the idea of the importance of protecting the environment, even when there is a high cost. Two times, Paine is accused of illegal activity as he tries to show that Dusty is dumping sewage into the marina from his ship, the Coral Queen.
Carl Hiaasen's other novels also push the theme of environmental conservation. Hoot relates the story of a young boy trying to stop the construction of a pancake business that will destroy a local family of owls.
