What is the theme in Child of God by Cormac McCarthy?

Survival is a theme in this book. Lester has no friends or connections. Because he is disconnected from the rest of the world he depends on himself to find his own food and entertain himself. As the book unfolds, the reader sees the progression of Lester's desire to survive spiral out of control. At first he begins by wanting to protect his land and property. He threatens people because he feels it is the only way he can survive. His instinct to protect his own personal property—all he has left—kicks in.