**Step 1: Identify an important topic in the play.**
The first step in determining the theme of a play is to identify an important topic that the play explores. This can be done by paying attention to the play's plot, characters, and setting. For example, the play's conflict may be related to a particular topic, or the play's setting may provide a backdrop for a particular topic.
**Step 2: Study how the play's structure supports the topic.**
Once an important topic has been identified, the next step is to study how the play's structure supports that topic. This involves examining how the play's plot, characters, and setting are all used to develop and explore the topic. For example, the play's conflict may be resolved in a way that reinforces the theme, or the play's characters may learn something about the topic as the play progresses.
**Step 3: Decide what the play says about the topic.**
The third step is to decide what the play says about the topic. This involves identifying the playwright's message about the topic and the insights that the playwright offers into the topic. For example, the playwright may be suggesting that the topic is complex, or the playwright may be offering a solution to a problem related to the topic.
**Step 4: State a message about the play's topic in a sentence.**
The final step is to state a message about the play's topic in a sentence. This is a way to summarize the theme in a concise and clear way. For example, the theme of Hamlet could be stated as "Revenge can be destructive."