Another theme is mortality. Since old men are closer to the end of their lives, stories about them can explore the idea of death, like how they face it or what they leave behind. In 'The Old Man and the Sea', the old man's struggle can be seen as a fight against his own mortality in a way.
One common theme is love and companionship. Just like in any relationship, gay old men often find great comfort and joy in the company of their partners. Another theme could be acceptance. They may have had to fight for acceptance in a society that was not always friendly towards their relationships.
Faith is a significant theme as well. A lot of old black men found strength in their religious faith. Their stories might include how they prayed for better days during difficult times, like the civil rights movement. Their faith gave them hope and the will to keep fighting for equality and justice.
One common theme is identity. For example, in stories where the man is a mysterious figure, his true identity is often a central question.
Power struggle is a common theme. For example, in 'The Most Dangerous Game', the two men are fighting for power over life and death. Revenge is another, like in 'The Cask of Amontillado'. And pride, as in 'To Build a Fire', where the man's pride leads to his conflict with the unforgiving nature which can be seen as an opponent like another man.
Moral ambiguity is another theme. Sometimes it's not clear who is in the right. In 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', Stapleton's motives are not clear at first, and there is a sense of moral gray area as Holmes tries to figure out if he is the one hunting Sir Henry. Is he just a madman, or does he have some claim? This moral uncertainty adds depth to the'man hunting man' dynamic.
Survival is also a theme. In some man vs man short stories, the characters are in a situation where they have to fight each other to survive. It could be in a post - apocalyptic setting or a situation like being stranded on an island. They compete for limited resources or for their own safety. And of course, pride often plays a role. A character's excessive pride might make them engage in a man vs man conflict, not wanting to back down or admit defeat.
Conflict over identity can be a theme. In some stories, characters are in conflict because they represent different identities or social classes. In 'A & P', Sammy's identity as a young rebel clashes with his boss's identity as a rule - following authority figure. Another theme is the struggle for survival, not just in a physical sense but also in a social or emotional sense. In 'The Interlopers', the two men are initially in a struggle for territorial survival, but then their situation changes to a more emotional survival as they face the unexpected together. And misunderstanding is also a common theme. When characters misunderstand each other's intentions, it can lead to man vs man conflict as in some stories where miscommunication causes enmity between two people.
One common theme is revenge. Ghosts often return to seek revenge on those who wronged them in life. For example, in many stories, a murdered person may come back as a ghost to punish the murderer.
One common theme is wisdom. Old ladies in short stories are often depicted as very wise, having lived through many experiences and able to offer valuable advice. For example, in many folk tales, the old lady is the one who guides the young protagonist out of trouble.
The theme of redemption is also present. There are stories where a cowboy who has made mistakes in his past tries to make up for it. Maybe he was a bandit before, but then he decides to turn his life around and become a better person. This shows that even in the rough world of cowboys, there was room for change and growth.