Homelessness
The main characters in the book are all homeless and this is the primary theme; a sub-theme seems to be the many different ways in which people become homeless and how it is often through no fault of their own. For example, the Calcet family members are homeless because they cannot make ends meet, and because Madame Calcet prioritizes keeping her family together they have no choice other than to sleep in the street. The novel show through Armand's inability to remember his last name due to being inthe streets for so long, how dehumanizing homelessness can be The theme also includes the fact that authorities do not provide a safety net for families like the Calcets and their only answer is to separate children from their families and put them into the system which helps nobody. The theme of homelessness is seen throughout the novel and presented without judgement.
The Magic of Christmas
The book is set against a backdrop of Christmas. Even though there is no longer a chimney for Santa to come down, and no toys due to their change in circumstances, the theme of Christmas shoes that the season has a magic to it that goes far beyond the gifts around the tree and the food on the table. The hopefulness and optimism of Christmas still prevails and the children still believe that it will magically provide a home. Ecause that is what they most want and Christmas has the power to make dreams and wishes come true. The theme is also where the most vivid visual imagery of the book is centered and the images extend to what can be heard, smelled and tasted as well.
Importance of Family
Family loyalty is one of the central themes of the book. Madame Calcet is determined to keep her family together and the children all try to pitch into help and bring in income. Suzy is upset when she feels that Paul's loyalties are with the gypsies more than with his own family. The theme also deals with family that is not related by blood but by emotion and circumstance as the Calcets come to consider Armand to be family and ultimately they live as an extended family although not related to each other. The gypsies also have a strong familial bond that ties in with this theme.
The Kindness of Strangers
The gypsies are strangers, yet they welcome the Calcets into the camp and treat them like old friends, and this theme of the kindness of friendship can be seen in various parts of the story. Armand is also dependent on the kindness of his friends in the department store and at the market; at the start of the novel although the Calcets are strangers to him Armand is still very kind to the children.
