What theme is explored in Everything That Rises Must Converge?

Discrimination is an important theme in the novel. Because these stories were set in the South during the 1960s, many of the characters held deep discriminations against other classes, races, and ages. Thomas from “The Comforts of Home” despises Sarah because of her lower stature; he thinks her presence is an embarrassment to his family. In “Judgment Day,” Tanner is discriminatory toward black people, although he doesn’t think he is saying anything wrong to them by referring to all black men as “Preacher.” Each character, though, has his or her discriminations thrown in his or her face.