Themes
The power of books
A main theme in The Shadow of the Wind is the power of books. Books can change people in a good or bad way, make people feel different ways, and bring people together. This theme is expressed in The Shadow of the Wind first of all by the point that books can bring people together. Daniel and Julian Carax/Lain Coubert are brought together by this book called The Shadow of the Wind. This book was written by Julian Carax which interests Daniel in this author and wants to read more and know more about him.
The only thing getting in his way is Lain Coubert who feels the need to burn Carax books. Things read in Julian's book about himself help Daniel make the right choices in his life so he dose not end up as Carax. One being that Carax had left Penelope and then lost her, now Daniel makes sure he does not repeat that with his own love Bea and ends up marrying her.
Lain Coubert towards the end of the book was later changed back to himself (Julian Carax) by the power of books, he wrote again. Other characters through the book are changed by Carax's books such as Nuria Monfort who grew to love Julian Carax though his books, and lastly a more indirect change but still conveys the theme, Fermin was pulled off the streets to come work in the book store, also grew to love books and that all changed his life. These events through the novel connect back to things that can happen in real life.
Obsession
Another theme in The Shadow of the Wind is the theme of obsession. There are many little side love scenes going on during the novel. There is a whole web of who is obsessed with who but a few are Julian Carax and Penelope but at the same time Nuria Monfort is obsessed with him, Daniel and Clara at first than him and Beatriz, Fermin and Bernarda, etc.
Obsession can be what ruin character's lives in this story or what makes them, even in real life. In the novel Julian Carax's life is ruined when Penelope is found dead and he then burns away his life even before that he was being taken away from his books for her, but Daniel's life is made by his obssesion Bea who he later gets married too. Fermin's life is made by his obsession for Bernarda whom makes his life happy. Obsession like this is also common in real life and can make or break a person.
Lying
Lying is also obviously another big theme conveyed in this novel. Characters lie to cover up the truth that they don't want other to know about. This happens a lot in real life too, if someone doesn't want you to know something they will hide the truth and cover it up with a lie. Through the whole novel Daniel lies to his father about where he has been because he dose not want him to know he has been with girls or others about the Carax mystery.
Once he gets Fermin in on the mystery with him they both grow a untruthful tongue as they lie their way to others so they can tell them more about what they know about Carax. For example when they lied about Carax possibly being Daniel's long lost brother to Father Furnando so he would tell them more. Nuria is also another big example of lying. She lied to the liars about what she knew about Carax because she did not want them to know. Big or small lying happened through the novel and in real life, but it did not pay off as Nuria gets busted for her lying to the point where she is murdered because Inspector Furmero finds out, and Daniel and Fermin are also caught by the people they lied to after the fact and Daniel's dada catches on. Same thing in real life, lying doesn't pay off.
People aren't always just who they seem
There is more that meets the eye as we all know in life. Lain Coubert is a perfect example of people aren't always who they seem. At first glance, appearance, intentions of Lain Coubert, we can't just blame Daniel for not knowing, I bet none of us knew that Lain Coubert was really Julian Carax.
From the descriptions of Julian Carax and the character of Lain Coubert it seems as they have nothing in common. But it is not until you go into the person's life and know more about them do you really find out who they are. People could be anybody, can be anybody, and could've been anybody you never know. Julian Carax used to be a great famous writer but one event changes his life and he becomes Lain Coubert, deep inside he really is Julian Carax but on the outside is perceived as Lain Coubert. Even in real life you don't know the full story of someone till you do, they could turn out to be anyone.
A main theme in The Shadow of the Wind is the power of books. Books can change people in a good or bad way, make people feel different ways, and bring people together. This theme is expressed in The Shadow of the Wind first of all by the point that books can bring people together. Daniel and Julian Carax/Lain Coubert are brought together by this book called The Shadow of the Wind. This book was written by Julian Carax which interests Daniel in this author and wants to read more and know more about him.
The only thing getting in his way is Lain Coubert who feels the need to burn Carax books. Things read in Julian's book about himself help Daniel make the right choices in his life so he dose not end up as Carax. One being that Carax had left Penelope and then lost her, now Daniel makes sure he does not repeat that with his own love Bea and ends up marrying her.
Lain Coubert towards the end of the book was later changed back to himself (Julian Carax) by the power of books, he wrote again. Other characters through the book are changed by Carax's books such as Nuria Monfort who grew to love Julian Carax though his books, and lastly a more indirect change but still conveys the theme, Fermin was pulled off the streets to come work in the book store, also grew to love books and that all changed his life. These events through the novel connect back to things that can happen in real life.
Obsession
Another theme in The Shadow of the Wind is the theme of obsession. There are many little side love scenes going on during the novel. There is a whole web of who is obsessed with who but a few are Julian Carax and Penelope but at the same time Nuria Monfort is obsessed with him, Daniel and Clara at first than him and Beatriz, Fermin and Bernarda, etc.
Obsession can be what ruin character's lives in this story or what makes them, even in real life. In the novel Julian Carax's life is ruined when Penelope is found dead and he then burns away his life even before that he was being taken away from his books for her, but Daniel's life is made by his obssesion Bea who he later gets married too. Fermin's life is made by his obsession for Bernarda whom makes his life happy. Obsession like this is also common in real life and can make or break a person.
Lying
Lying is also obviously another big theme conveyed in this novel. Characters lie to cover up the truth that they don't want other to know about. This happens a lot in real life too, if someone doesn't want you to know something they will hide the truth and cover it up with a lie. Through the whole novel Daniel lies to his father about where he has been because he dose not want him to know he has been with girls or others about the Carax mystery.
Once he gets Fermin in on the mystery with him they both grow a untruthful tongue as they lie their way to others so they can tell them more about what they know about Carax. For example when they lied about Carax possibly being Daniel's long lost brother to Father Furnando so he would tell them more. Nuria is also another big example of lying. She lied to the liars about what she knew about Carax because she did not want them to know. Big or small lying happened through the novel and in real life, but it did not pay off as Nuria gets busted for her lying to the point where she is murdered because Inspector Furmero finds out, and Daniel and Fermin are also caught by the people they lied to after the fact and Daniel's dada catches on. Same thing in real life, lying doesn't pay off.
People aren't always just who they seem
There is more that meets the eye as we all know in life. Lain Coubert is a perfect example of people aren't always who they seem. At first glance, appearance, intentions of Lain Coubert, we can't just blame Daniel for not knowing, I bet none of us knew that Lain Coubert was really Julian Carax.
From the descriptions of Julian Carax and the character of Lain Coubert it seems as they have nothing in common. But it is not until you go into the person's life and know more about them do you really find out who they are. People could be anybody, can be anybody, and could've been anybody you never know. Julian Carax used to be a great famous writer but one event changes his life and he becomes Lain Coubert, deep inside he really is Julian Carax but on the outside is perceived as Lain Coubert. Even in real life you don't know the full story of someone till you do, they could turn out to be anyone.