Carpe diem (“Powder”)
The narrator’s father adopts the Carpe Diem ideology. For example he sneaks the narrator “into a nightclub during his last visit, to see Thelonious Monk.” Also, the narrators’ father applies the Carpe diem ideology when he outmaneuvers the state trooper. He emboldens his son to remove the barricade so that they can go home. The closure of the road does not hamper him from following his objective of driving home; he seizes his opportunity by opening the road after the trooper’s departure.
Love (“The Night In Question”)
Tobias Wolff delves into two categories of love namely: human love and God’s love. Human love disappoints Frank but God’s love, which Frank underscores throughout his preaching, gives him fortitude. Frank’s appeal to Godly love is imperative because it helps him to get over the grief of being hurt by a woman.
Sacrifice (“The Night In Question”)
Mike’s state of affairs backs to the theme of sacrifice. Wolff writes, “He doesn't have time for anything but lowering the bridge, and just barely enough time for that. He's got to get that bridge down now or the train is going into the river with everyone on board. This is the position he's in; this is the choice he has to make. His son, his Benjamin, or the people on that train.” The choice that Mike makes will be sacrificial either way. Going down to the engine room to get his son is tantamount to sacrificing all the lives on the train. Comparatively, lowering the bridge is equivalent to sacrificing Benjamin’s life for the benefit of all people in the train. Mike faces the either… or… circumstance; whereby, he cannot concurrently salvage both the train passengers and his son. From the Biblical outlook, God faced the predicament of either emancipating humanity (by sacrificing Jesus) or being bereaved of the entire humanity due to sin (which would transpire had Jesus's life not been forfeited).
Sibling bond (“The Night In Question”)
Tobias Wolff maps out the foundation of the extant bond between Frank and Frances when he writes, “Frances did oppose her father. In defiance of his orders, she brought food to Frank's room when he was banished, stood up for him and told him he was right to stand up for himself.” Frances offers Frank the affection that he cannot acquire from his father. Frances’ rebelliousness means that she feels a concern her brother and would do everything to ensure that her brother is contented.
