A theme is the underlying message or moral of a story, while the central idea is the main point or focus of the story. The theme is usually more abstract and can be interpreted in different ways, while the central idea is more concrete and is usually stated explicitly in the story. The theme is often revealed through the characters' actions and dialogue, while the central idea is usually stated directly by the author. The theme is usually more general and can be applied to many different stories, while the central idea is usually more specific and unique to the story.
