A major theme of this story by Alejo Carpentier is the never-ending, cyclical nature of war This is communicated through the framing of the story. In a time loop, a soldier prepares to leave for four different conflicts spread over three thousand years before returning to his original point of departure. The story also explores the theme of propaganda—the contradiction between the ideological reasons used to legitimize war and reality (maintaining alliances, conquest, subjugation, colonisation, enrichment of the ruling class). Other themes include time, greed, racism, the effect of war on those preparing for it (bravado, sexuality, separation, disillusionment).
The four conflicts for which the protagonist is preparing to depart are the mythical Trojan War (c. 1200 BC), the Spanish conquest of the Indies (16th century), the French colonization of the Americas (17th century), and World War II (20th century). Some website summaries suggest that the story also covers the Fourth Crusade (13th century), but this is only mentioned in passing at the end of section III where the protagonist states that “some time ago” —the battle was five hundred years beforehand! —he had been on the point of enlisting but was too sick to depart due to a fever.