Themes

Lion Goodman explores several themes in his short story “A Shot in the Light” by Lion Goodman, out of which the most important ones are trust, communication, compassion, and spirituality.

Trust

The theme of trust is the most important one in the story, as it shows the consequences of blindingly trusting a stranger. Generally, people are reluctant to have trust and confide in the persons that are not close to them, which is a normal feature of all human beings. Trust needs to be earned, and it is very easily for one to be disappointed and let down once the trust is broken.

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Communication

The theme of communication shows how words can sometimes get you out of trouble. In the story, the narrator is aware that talking and communicating with Ray is the best solution to save himself:

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Compassion

The theme of compassion is initially illustrated by the narrator, who felt pity for Ray when seeing that he needed help. Compassion made him take the man in his van and share his clothes with him, something that not many people would do with a stranger. Although his compassion backfires, it is also what saves him.

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Spirituality

Finally, the theme of spirituality presents the way in which the narrator coped with his near-death experience. After being shot in the head and turning to God for guidance and forgiveness, the narrator depicts his inner change, which is...

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