What is the theme in Freedom by Orlando Patterson?

There are several themes that occur throughout the book. The first, obviously, is the theme of slavery, the domination of one human by another, whether it is called slavery or serfdom. The slave is considered to be socially dead, with no rights of any kind. The slave may or may not be responsible for the financial well-being of the slave master. His purpose may just be to enhance the honor and dignity of the slave master. Throughout the book, then, readers see one struggle after the other, as slave and then serf fight to attain personal freedom, not matter how it is defined. Slaves are so oppressed throughout history that they don't even have the right to exist.