Fate and Fatalism The play explores the theme of fate and fatalism The characters in the play seem resigned to their fate accepting the cyclical nature of life and death This concept is found in many cultures and philosophical traditions After losing all her sons Maurya accepts her fate No man at all can be living forever and we must be satisfied Family and Relationships The dynamics within the family the bonds between siblings and between a mother and her children are central to the play The universal themes of familial love duty and sacrifice are portrayed through the characters and their relationships Culture and Universality While the play is set in the Aran Islands on the west coast of Ireland its themes and characters transcend cultural specifics The struggles of the characters are relatable to people from various backgrounds In summary Riders to the Sea is considered a universal drama because it addresses timeless and cross-cultural themes such as tragedy loss conflict with nature fate and the dynamics of family relationships