12culture and often effective in controlling and activating belief and conduct in a specificdirection." Webster's Third New International Dictionary (Unabridged), (G. & C. Merriam Co.1976), p. 2370.THEMES IN GENERAL Theme: A central idea in a literary work; usually suggested by the narrative action.EXAMPLES: Virtue is its own reward.Nice guys finish last.Theme: An intellectual abstraction; the idea that unifies the structure and is represented by theactions of the characters as a whole dramatic piece.DEFINITION OF THEME OF THE CASE [DEFENSE] Theme of Case [Defense]: A word, phrase or simple sentence that captures the controlling ordominant emotion and/or reality of the theory of the defense. The defense theme must be briefand easily remembered by the jurors.