In King of Sloth, the theme of maintaining control is central to Sloane’s and Xavier’s character development. Both protagonists exhibit a deep need for control, whether in their personal or professional lives. Over the course of the novel, Huang forces them both to find a better balance, and to this end, Sloane must learn to relinquish control, while Xavier must steel himself to take control of his own path in life.

For Sloane, her need for control manifests in her demanding career and her carefully structured life. She is constantly managing her clients, making decisions, and ensuring that everything runs smoothly, even at the expense of her own well-being. Xavier recognizes this flaw in her and observes that Sloane “[i]s wound so tight she [i]s bound to explode” (10). His efforts to get her away from work so that she can “loosen up [and] have some fun” indicate his desire to help her break free from the rigid structures that she has built as a barricade against the world’s unpredictability (10). Though Sloane believes that maintaining control is the best approach to life, her own desire for freedom can be seen in her perception of Xavier. At times, she regards him with outright envy, wondering, “What was it like to live life so carefree every day? To not worry about being perceived by others or being good enough, successful enough, impactful enough to justify my existence?” (53).