The theme that seemed to stick out the most to me was power and control. The whole book is a struggle Gerald and Jordan for dominate male in the house. Jordan is constantly giving everyone reminders about how he is the strongest and that he can do whatever he wants to them. Then Jordan goes to jail, and Gerald takes the seat. When Jordan gets let out there is a climax and they end up fighting physically for what is essential power. Even though putting it that way makes Gerald sound bad, and he is not by any stretch of the mind. He is still fighting for control though so that Jordan cannot keep doing this terrible things to his family.