Dragon Raja - Themes

Themes

The main theme of Dragon Raja is human relationship, characteristics that makes humans humans, the theme that is repeatedly explored in different ways throughout the book.

Human Harmony

One of the recurring aspects of human relationship is the human trait that allows them to harmony with these that are different from them. During tha story it is quoted- To create a wall hay, dirt, clay, and water all need to be mixed together. They are different substances but end up creating harmony. it shows that people need to be different, unique, with individuality to make harmony. Elves call themselves a failure of Juphinel because they are all the same and hence it is impossible for them to be harmonious in the true context of the concept of "harmony." Harmony is only possible when individuals with visible differences are mixed perfectly without conflict; since no elf in the world of D\R carries any distinguishable differences from another, the elves are incapable of creating harmony among themselves.

Human Individuality

Another aspect of human relationship that is seen in the book is the fact that humans have individuality or ego, that they keep dearer then their own lives, and because of this reason they cannot accept those that are identical to them. Because of individuality, something that humans possess while all other races do not, humans are able to make harmony with those that are different from them but it also makes humans cling to their individual self, unable to accept these that are identical to them.

Multiple Identity

Another trait of humans that is explored in Dragon Raja is the humankind's ability to embrace his or her different identities. The famous line of the novel, I am not one is repeatedly spoken by many characters throughout the novel. This illustrates the human ability to possess many different identities and embrace all of them at the same time, even though they may all conflict. Karl, a character in the novel, explains this quote to the Dragon Lord by saying he is Karl the Hoochie's old friend, Karl the half-brother of Lord of Heltant, Karl the Sanson's friend and Karl the leader of the group. He has so many identities yet is able to embrace and seek harmony among all of them, which is an ability that none of other races, not even the dragons, possess.

Human Influence

The author observed how human influence resulting from active interactions between the Human race and the factors which surround it affect the rest of the world. The quote that Karl speaks of, which goes "When an Elf walks in the forest, she becomes a tree; when a Man walks in the forest, he creates a trail. When an Elf looks up at the sky, she becomes a star; when a Man looks up at the sky, he creates constellations...," sums up the vast difference in the ways humans and elves affect the surroundings with their respective interactions. It is an important characteristic that the Humans in the world of D\R naturally possess: the will to change those that are around them. This distinguishes the race of Humans from the rest of the creatures as no other race causes such radical changes in their surroundings as humans do. However, while humans have succeeded in even altering the ego of a dragon through the help of a raja, the only exception comes in the town of Heltant where Amurtaat, the dragon without a raja, reversibly changes the humans into accepting her presence among them. This gives Hooch, the main protagonist, hope, in a way that when Humans in the future generation go out of control with the other races diminishing from the world gradually from their lack of individuality and will to impose on others, Amurtaat, and the End which she signifies, can either stop the Human race from speeding towards their own downfall, or teach them a lesson.