What is the theme in Call It Sleep by Henry Roth?

Oedipal relationships is a theme in this story. The Oedipal relationship between mother and son has been a long-standing principle of psychiatry since Sigmund Freud. In general, it refers to the love of a young boy for his mother, so that he sees himself in competition with other males, usually the father, for mother's affection. This relationship between David and Genya is demonstrated in several ways throughout the work, and is a strong force in David's thoughts and feelings.