What is the theme in All the Little Live Things by Wallace Stegner?

Older and younger generations make up the central theme to the story. This novel is set in the sixties, at the beginning of the hippie revolution that developed throughout the country during that century. The Allstons, well educated, wealthy retirees, find themselves faced with a young man who belongs to this revolution on their property. Joe Allston instantly recognizes this man for what he is, referring to him in his own mind as Caliban. Caliban is a figure from literature who is referred to as natural man in literature written by Robert Browning and as a monster of sorts in the Shakespeare play The Tempest. From this reference, the reader automatically can sense the disruption this character will create in the novel for his anti-establishment beliefs that are based less in logic and more in disrespect for social rules.