The Dangerous Line Between Devotion and Fanaticism
While Bill and Brita are portrayed as independent and individualistic characters, they are juxtaposed against mass movements comprised of deeply devoted adherents. For example, the life of Karen in the Unification Church is described in brutal detail, just as Ayatollah Khomeini's funeral march. DeLillo suggests throughout the novel that humans have an innate capacity to devote themselves and to worship. This may exhibit itself in religion, art, or political ideology as in the case of the Maoists. DeLillo is increasingly skeptical of this notion and sees the damage that is wrought when devotion becomes fanaticism.
The Impossibility of Perfection
Bill has spent years working on his latest novel, yet as he reveals, the novel has already been completed. Instead of releasing it, he spends each day obsessively rewriting each page, in an attempt to write a perfect novel. This pursuit is obviously futile, and thus he toils joylessly over the work. In this fashion, DeLillo suggests that perfection does not exist, and therefore should not be desired. For example, when Brita studies the Warhol painting of Mao she is only capable of viewing its flaws. Because she holds the work to a standard of perfection, she is incapable of appreciating its merits. Because Bill holds his work to a standard of perfection, it will never be released. Just as in life, perfection cannot exist in art, and one should abandon such an imperfect notion.
The Pitfalls of Isolation
Just as DeLillo warns of the potential dangers of collective identity, he also gestures towards the downsides of isolation. Tired of attention and adoration, Bill retreated to solitude. Although he thought it would be better, he ends up incredibly lonely and unproductive in his work. He begins drinking again. In a similar way, Brita has no family nor developed relationships and she feels unrooted and solitary. Here DeLillo suggests that balance between isolation and inundation is the key.
The Universality of Opposition
DeLillo's work is steeped in conflict. Be it the Cold War, the Lebanese Civil War, or the Iraq War, he is deeply concerned with struggles of power and opposition. The same is true in Mao II. The work is rife with opposition. The Maoists oppose the Westerners, Scott opposes Bill's intention to publish his work, Bill opposes Karen and Scott's control over his life. In every facet of life, in every geographical location there is conflict and opposition. One can either learn to navigate this reality, or die as Bill does.
The Incredible Effect of Technology
Writing in the early 1990s, DeLillo could already foresee the ways in which the digital technology was revolutionizing the world. Although technology does not hold an altogether prevalent place in the novel, it is an important undercurrent to much of the novel. It is on the television where the characters watch the news and are updated about the world around them, especially the central scene of Ayatollah Khomeini's funeral. They are seemingly baffled by the rapid dissemination of information. Likewise, Brita takes pictures on a film camera and is seemingly able to capture Bill's likeness forever. These uses of technology drastically alter the human experience of the world, and the interactions shared between humans themselves.
