Magic
The theme of magic occupies a leading position in the story. Although the biggest part of the novel is dedicated to a competition between Celia and Marco, it also depicts people’s attitude towards magic and mysteries. The most interesting thing is that almost all human beings are equally fascinated by it and scared of it. Rather than believing in magic, “people see what they wish to see.” Mostly, people are so terrified of the mere idea that there is something in the world that could never be explained logically that they see “what they are told they see.” It is no wonder that people behave like that; all in all, mankind has always had a difficult relationship with magic and witchcraft. At the same time, a life without magic is too predictable, and the majority of people don’t mind enjoying some form of magic from time to time. That is the reason why people still buy tickets to a circus and use cards to read the future.
The Power of Love
Many philosophers have tried to determine the place of love in a human’s life. While not philosophers, Marco and Celia know without a doubt that it is the most valuable thing in their lives. It not only helps them to feel alive but also helps them to solve problems that seemed to be unsolvable. They are willing to sacrifice their complete corporeal freedom to exist in their love together, but to them, that is worth it. Their love isn't entirely selfish, though: they chose an option that would allow the circus—an object of love for so many other people—to remain in existence. They know that a person's greatest love can be for a place, a friend, or art, and that is just as important as romantic love.
Rivalry
What would one do in order to beat his or her rival? More often than not, the answer is "whatever it takes." Prospero the Enchanter and Alexander have always been rivals, for they are like day and night: absolutely different. Being a sore loser, Prospero the Enchanter can’t handle the idea that Alexander is stronger than him. To beat his opponent, the man is ready to wager his own child. At the age of six, Celia becomes a toy in the hands of her father. The question then becomes: Where is the line between healthy and unhealthy rivalry? Prospero the Enchanter fails to find an answer and, consequently, he loses his own daughter—the only one person who can love him sincerely. The plot of this story shows how destructive rivalry can be for a human, regardless of whether that person is a magician or not.
Commitment
It happens quite often that a person's sense of responsibility prevents that person from not only living but also from enjoying life. This novel shows how differently responsibility can affect people. Celia, who makes a commitment to take part in the game, is not happy at all. She suffers from the fact that she doesn’t agree to do this voluntarily. This is an example of the destructive influence of responsibilities: They only exhaust her. Unlike Celia, Bailey takes on a responsibility to be a keeper of the circus of his own free will and feels happy. He finally finds his place in life, and commitment is not onerous but welcome for him.
Fate vs. Action
From before they are barely old enough to understand who they are, Marco and Celia are placed in a competition. This competition is what structures their entire lives -it dictates who they are, what they do, and what value their lives have. It seems as if they were fated to remain within this competition until its end, and as if one of them were fated to die. However, they come to a point at which they take their fates into their own hands. In a profoundly existential action, Celia and Marco define themselves by their action: by their push to break the bonds of fate and fashion a life of their own. It isn't easy or flawless, but it does work, leaving the two of them in a world that is more limited in some ways but much more liberating in others.
Specialness and Singularity
The novel is about a number of special, singular people: magicians, fortune-tellers, and contortionists. Those people are unlike regular people; though they are still enduring very human problems and situations, they are people removed from the ordinary. Thus, it is no wonder that Bailey, a regular teenage boy whose family owns a farm, is shocked to discover that he has an important role to play in the circus's future. But, as Celia tells him, he does not have to be "special" to do special things; rather, his passion for the circus and his willingness to save it are what make him special, and the perfect person to help the circus endure. This is an important character and message for the reader: as they navigate a rarefied world of magic-wielders, they also have a touchstone in someone who is normal yet special.
Stories
A.H. extols the merits of storytelling, telling Widget that stories are not what they once were: they do not have such easy morals, heroes and villains, nor nice pat endings. But he while he does seem to rue this to an extent, he also seems to be a realist who appreciates the fact that stories interweave with each other—that all people and creatures are heroes of their own stories, and that things are not as easy to pin down as they seem. This speech parallels the novel itself, which is also about stories and how they overlap with other stories. Celia, Marco, Poppet, Widget, Bailey, Isobel, Tsukiko, Chandresh, and others all see their stories weaving in with each other's; Celia being unable to keep the circus going and end the competition is a testament to that.
