Power
The theme of power and manipulation is central to Ormond; or, the Secret Witness. It showcases how individuals and societal structures can exert power over other people. This theme is exemplified by Ormond, who uses his status as a man and psychological manipulation tactics to influence women like Constantia, who don't have much agency on their own. In the novel, it becomes clear that the wrong people have power. The people who are more apt to misuse power have it, revealing the shifting nature of power as a result of the American Revolution. In the end, the novel explores the nature of power and how it changes people for better and worse.
Feminism
One of the most significant themes in Ormond; or the Secret Witness is feminism. The novel explores female autonomy and what it means to be a feminist in an era where men were valued much more than women. Constantia, the novel's main character and protagonist, embodies the struggle for independence and self-determination despite living in a time in which her contributions weren't valued because of her gender. Her resistance to Ormond's manipulations and society's expectations, as well as her efforts to define her own identity, underscore the power and importance of feminism in a world dominated by men. Not only that, through Constantia, author Charles Brown critiques the limited roles available to women and advocates for greater agency and respect for their capabilities.
Change
As a result of the American Revolution and the subsequent adoption of the Constitution, America radically changed. Namely, democratic ideals like individual liberty and freedom for all made citizens reevaluate societal structures ingrained in them due to hundreds of years of British rule. Not only that, but the American Revolution challenged notions of aristocracy and monarchy, which had dominated when America was a British colony, advocating for a society based on merit and equality. However, the Revolution also exposed contradictions in a society that supposedly valued equality and freedom, particularly regarding slavery and how men treated women.
