What are the motifs in The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey?

The desire for power is a recurring idea. The author uses many kinds of power in the story. There is the power associated with the Hold Lords and the power that comes from knowledge and the power that comes from the dragons. Jaxom has more power than the other Lord Holders because he also has a dragon. There is a strong desire for power from the other Lord Holders in regards to the Southern Continent. It is also evident that the Weyrleaders at Benden want a piece of the Southern Continent so they will no longer be reliant upon the other Holds to provide needed food.