Themes such as racism, women in society, religion, change, oppression, power and authority are featured throughout the book.
She and her husband, Bee Dorcas are a religious couple who are both members of the Spiritual Baptist Church in a small Trinidadian community known as Bonasse.
Trust became an issue for the fellow characters since Ivan Morton betrayed them when he entered into the political life and evacuated the house his father built on his own to live in a colonial-era mansion, located on top of the Bonasse hill, that was once occupied by an English family known as the Richardsons.
[5] The betrayal of Ivan Morton results in a dramatic change within the lives and faith of the community, emphasizing the toll that power and authority takes on someone's personality.
Members of the community connected their faith with their daily lives by reciting Bible verses throughout the novel depicting religion as a major theme.