* The Power of Gossip and Rumor: The story revolves around the spread of rumors and gossip, and how they can affect individuals and communities. The gossips are portrayed as both malicious and naive, their words carrying the potential to destroy lives, yet they often fail to see the full consequences of their actions.
* Identity and Belonging: The characters grapple with issues of identity and belonging. They navigate the complexities of their own cultural heritage, the pressures of conforming to societal expectations, and the struggle to find their place in a sometimes unforgiving world.
* Trauma and Healing: The story explores the legacy of trauma and its impact on individuals and generations. The characters bear the weight of past events, both personal and collective, and the story explores their attempts to heal and move forward.
* The Power of Storytelling: The story itself is a form of storytelling, and Romero uses the act of storytelling as a way to examine the nature of truth and memory. The gossips' stories are often fragmented, distorted, and unreliable, highlighting the limitations of oral transmission and the potential for truth to be lost in the process.
* The Nature of Justice: The story questions the nature of justice and its application. The characters struggle with notions of right and wrong, guilt and innocence, and the difficulties of achieving true justice in a complex world.
It's important to note that these are just some of the prominent themes in "What the Gossips Saw." The story invites multiple interpretations and can be analyzed on a variety of levels.