Through Will’s physical journey as well as his internal struggles, author John Christopher weighs the value of freedom against the stability and security that can sometimes be obtained by surrendering such freedom.

Christopher presents both drawbacks and apparent advantages of life under the Tripods as humans sacrifice agency for the perception of comfort and happiness. Early on, when Jack voices his concerns about being Capped, Will simply replies, “People are happy now” (15), a sentiment he likely heard repeated throughout the village while growing up. Even if his statement is not exactly the truth, it is not so far from the truth as to be completely unbelievable. Certainly, the inhabitants of Wherton seem to have what they need to survive; not even the Vagrants go hungry. Those who are able work each day, and there are no real wars or conflicts with other people. Of course, all of this comes with a caveat, which is that Capping is a prerequisite to living a peaceful life under the Tripods. Crucially, Capping does not actually improve the lives of those who are affected; rather, it improves their perception of their own lives without materially changing those lives.