Henry's struggle as an English physician in a Welsh village highlights the tensions between progress and tradition, demonstrating how cultural barriers can both divide and ultimately unite people in unexpected ways.

Linette's complex relationship with her troubled mother and distant cousin explores how familial bonds can both constrain and empower, showing the impact of inherited trauma and responsibility on personal identity.

The clash between Henry's medical training and the village's belief in myths and magic represents the eternal struggle between rational thought and traditional wisdom, suggesting that truth often lies somewhere in between.