What are the motifs in Sharpe's Christmas by Bernard Cornwell?

Compassion and mercy are recurring ideas. Though Cornwell claims Sharpe is belligerent, Sharpe demonstrates compassion and mercy throughout both of these stories and this is an important theme that recurs. In the title story, Sharpe and Harper are unable to kill the bullock for their dinner because they feel sorry for it and Sharpe worries about Nicholls being killed if they go to war. Gudin shows compassion by his refusal to abandon the women and children at the fort at Ochagavia while Caillou's lack of compassion serves as a foil to Gudin.