A short story’s theme can be defined as what the story is about- the problems or issues that it explores.

What is a Theme?
When trying to discover the theme(s) of a story, remember that a theme is not a summary of the plot. A theme is a universal idea suggested by the specifics of hte story. Is is stated in general terms.
The true themes of a story hold true for the whole story- not just a part of it. They are the central ideas that state the essential meaning of the story.

Explicit vs. "hidden" themes. It is easy to state the theme of stories that have been written deliberately to communicate a specific lesson or moral (for example, Aesop’s fable of the Tortoise and the Hare, which ends with the explicit moral: "Slow and steady wins the race").
Most stories, however, are not as easily reduced to a single simple lesson. They are likely to have more than one important theme imbedded in the story itself.

Some traditional short story themes. Although a story’s themes are specifically linked to the story that explores them, authors draw on common theme patterns that have appeared to stories throughout the history of literature. Have you encountered any of these traditional themes in your reading?

The struggle between good and evil.
The difference between nature and civilized society.
The conflict between the individual and the community.
The difference between country and city life.
The conflict between human free will and fate.

Recognizing Themes in a Short Story
A story communicates its central theme or themes in a variety of ways. In looking for themes, consider come of these possible clues:

• The title of the story
  
• Important images or symbols in the story
  
• General observations made by the author, narrator, or characters in the story
  
• Any "moral" suggested by the outcome of the conflict