The main theme could be about the relationship between humans and nature. The gardener's interaction with the garden might symbolize how people care for and are affected by the natural world.
The gardener is the most obvious main character in 'The Gardener' short story. There may also be other characters like the neighbors who might interact with the gardener, perhaps commenting on the garden or asking for gardening advice. But the gardener is the key figure around whom the story seems to revolve.
As I'm not aware of the '1408 short story', it's difficult to determine the main theme. It could potentially be about isolation if it's set in a single location like room 1408. Maybe it's about the psychological state of a character who is in that particular place. But without more information, it's all speculation.
The main character is likely the gardener. There could also be some characters who are inspired by the gardener's online posts, such as a neighbor who sees his beautiful garden pictures online and decides to start gardening too. And there might be online friends who he chats with about different gardening topics and they could also be considered important characters in the story.
It could be that the novel explores themes like the relationship between the gardener and the garden. The gardener might see the garden as a reflection of his inner self, or it could be about the cycle of life as seen through the growth and change in the garden. Also, themes of patience and dedication, as gardening requires a lot of both, are likely to be present.
The gardener could face problems like pests destroying the plants or bad weather damaging the garden.
The main theme could be about perception and connection. The narrator's initial narrow view of the blind man expands as he gets to know him better through the act of drawing a cathedral together.
The main theme could be survival. In many stories involving fire, characters often have to fight for their lives and figure out how to stay alive in the face of the destructive power of fire.
The main theme could be about self - discovery. In the story, the pond might symbolize a place of reflection where the character discovers something about themselves.
The main theme in 'Metamorphosis' is alienation. Gregor's transformation into an insect makes him an outcast in his own family and society. He is no longer able to communicate or interact in the same way, highlighting the sense of isolation.
The main theme could be about connection. Bridges often symbolize a link between two places or states, so perhaps in this short story it's about connecting different characters, ideas, or parts of a society.