What is the theme in The Bone People by Keri Hulme?

Loneliness is a key theme to this novel as all three main characters experience it in their own way and are trying to find their way out of it. Kerewin’s loneliness is mostly self-imposed, but her thoughts linger on her family. Joe’s loneliness comes from his grief over losing his wife and son and from it comes some of his aggression towards Simon. It also causes him to reach out to Kerewin and fall in love with her. Due to his inability to actually speak, Simon feels lonely which comes out in the form of theft, fighting, and other bad behavior. Although each of their reasons for their loneliness are different, they struggle to cure their feelings together.